There has been a lot of discussion in the community about feeling safe in Lismore's CBD this year. This peaked in August when a shop owner and a Lismore City Councillor shared their views on social media.

On Monday, officers from Richmond Police District conducted Operation Rapina, spending time in the CBD and the shopping precinct in Goonellabah, speaking with shop owners, managers and conducting high-visibility policing.

"We wanted to let people know that we are around for their safety and also for their assistance," Commander Dave Roptell told the Lismore App.

"As a result of the operation, we identified a few offences, but nothing of too much concern. The following was achieved:

• We issued three Criminal infringement notices for stealing,
• One criminal infringement notice for offensive conduct.
• We executed two move-on directions and two person searches.
• One arrest for an outstanding warrant, and we completed four apprehended domestic violence compliance checks.

"The interesting part, again, like we have discovered in the past with this operation in the Lismore CBD, we scanned 14 people for knives and other implements. However, no find."

The results of Operation Rapina left Commander Roptell in a positive frame of mind as we head into the Christmas break.

"Only three criminal infringement notices for shoplifting. That's pretty good just before Christmas. Looking at that and going into the CBD and Goonellabah, that's an indication that crime is down in the area.

"I first ran the operation about six months ago, that was the first one I really hit the town, and we absolutely got a lot more results than that, but we have been continually putting staff into the CBD, on some funding, so we have been able to deploy our police on a regular basis.

"I can tell you one thing, though, one of the ladies from Mel's Melting Moments was a big believer that crime was out of control, mental health, all that type of stuff. A few months back, she wrote a letter, not just to us, but to a lot more civic leaders, thanking the attention and the focus to the area, and she feels much safer. So, overall, we are receiving positive messages from the community."

Another positive sign for 2026 is the hiring of the PACER (Police, Ambulance, Clinical Early Response) person in Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

"We welcome the initiative of the PACER project, which will be a benefit to the community."

"I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and look forward to working with the community again next year."