Orange Police Association official Leon Lincoln said having more officers in the western region would enable them to take a more proactive role in the community.

He said police officers in the Canobolas LAC were required to respond to incidents in towns and villages as far away as Cowra.

“With more police there is is a much better opportunity for more proactive policing,” his union colleague Jeff Mullins said.

The men said the majority of police work in Orange was taken up by break and enters, domestic violence and motor vehicle break-ins.

“But many of those instances are fuelled by drugs and alcohol,” Mr Lincoln said.

He said his job was harder now than it was when he became a police officer, as a lack of respect for police was on the increase.

“You never really know what you’re walking into these days and some days are harder than others,” he said.

“But in saying that I wouldn’t want to do any other job, I just love policing.”

The men said communities where there were sufficient police to undertake proactive policing programs always responded well to a police presence. Canobolas Local Area Commander Superintendent David Driver was contacted for comment on police numbers in Orange.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au