A new police unit is set to make Newcastle and the Hunter region safer.

The Northern High-Visibility Police (HVP) Unit is aimed at preventing, disrupting, and responding to crime by undertaking high-visibility patrols of crime hotspots.

Deployed late last month, Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell APM, said the high-visibility teams will be a reassuring presence on Hunter and Central Coast streets.

He added that the new unit would play a key role in disrupting crime and anti-social behaviour and deal with a wide variety of criminal and social disorder offences.

“High-visibility policing is a crucial element of regional policing – we want our communities to know we are there in numbers to protect and support them 24/7,” he said.

“Local policing is at the heart of any regional community, and the HVP Unit is designed to increase overall confidence for all members of the community, by addressing any concerns from retail owners, to visitors, to residents and workers.

“The Northern HVP Unit will have the ability to be deployed wherever our demand and need is.”

The team will collaborate with district police in terms of preventing, disrupting and responding to crime.

“People want to feel safe and secure and this is what this team’s primary focus is about,” AC Mitchell said.  

The unit will be rolled out at events and areas where there are large crowds and will work towards increasing community engagement.

“They are highly-skilled and available to engage with the public – we want you to come up and talk to them, tell them what is happening in your neighbourhood,” he said.

“By targeting crime with more boots on the ground and in a highly-visible manner, it’s hoped offenders will have second thoughts before breaking the law.”

It was announced in January last year that 100 new officers would be a part of the HVP teams to be stationed at five regions across the state.  

The local unit consists of one sergeant and five constables and they will be deployed to any areas of the Northern Region as deemed appropriate.

The unit, to be stationed at Newcastle Police Station, will serve multiple police districts including Newcastle City, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley.