Inspector Craig Fox has spent more than three decades in policing. From his post at Longford Police Station, he oversees the Central North Division for Tasmania Police which encompasses a vast stretch of central Tasmania, including the Meander Valley. It is a role shaped not just by experience but by a deep-seated understanding of what rural communities need from their police.
“Policing was probably in my blood,” he says. “My father was a policeman. I had two uncles that were in the police. I had a cousin that was in the police. I’m the only one left now.” He joined the force at 22 after returning home from travelling and a string of other jobs. Though it was not a long-held ambition, he knew the job well, having grown up in country towns during his father’s own police career.
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That practical start laid the groundwork for a career that has taken him across the state, from King Island to Launceston and now to Longford. Through all of it, what has remained most important to him are the relationships with fellow officers and with members of the communities he serves. “They’ve really been a big part of my life now for 30 years,” he says. “I’ve made some really good friends, and some great people.”
The Central North Division spans a significant portion of the state. “It encompasses from Tunbridge through to past Elizabeth Town and a bit of the Highlands, a bit of the east coast,” Fox explains. With a team of just over 20 officers to cover such a large and varied area, he says the demands are unique and constant.
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Among those challenges is ensuring community expectations are met with limited resources. The Meander Valley, he says, is vocal in its desire for greater access to local policing.
“There’s no doubt that the community wants the customer service operator back at Deloraine Police Station. I’m very supportive of that,” he says. In collaboration with Meander Valley Council, he is working to upgrade the station to a safer, more accessible standard. While there is no firm timeline, he says all parties are moving in the same direction, but it takes time.
The nature of policing in the Meander Valley reflects the broader rural setting. “We get plenty of domestic disturbances, alcohol-related issues. Unfortunately, drugs are part of society,” Fox says. Rural concerns are also part of daily life, from animals on roads to illegal shooting incidents. A recent multi-agency operation, involving helicopters and drones, served as a visible reminder that police are willing to adapt and take action.
His time in remote locations such as King Island taught him the importance of embedding in the community. “I had some great times … in an official police capacity, of course,” he says with a laugh. But some experiences have been far more sobering. “You’re dealing with some pretty horrible people and some really traumatised family members,” he says of his involvement in murder investigations. “Being able to charge someone and get a conviction… might give some comfort to the family.”
“We see people at their worst and their worst situations,” he says. In country areas, the job extends well beyond the usual scope. Officers assist the ambulance service, respond to emergencies and even take the lead in situations such as aircraft crashes and floodwater rescues. A recent training exercise at Launceston Airport underscored the breadth of those responsibilities.
Though future staffing increases in the Central North Division are unlikely in the short term, Fox says police resources are reviewed regularly against data, population growth and demand. He welcomes the growth of specialist policing in the north, which now includes roles in cyber crime, sex crime and other investigative units that were once only based in Hobart. These opportunities, he says, give officers new career paths without having to relocate.
As for community safety in the Meander Valley, Fox’s message is grounded in vigilance and practicality. “If it doesn’t look right or it doesn’t feel right, then report it,” he says. Technology like CCTV can help, and early reports often prevent more serious outcomes later.
“If you get to know [people], you can probably get to help them a bit more,” he says. For him, that is what policing is ultimately about.
