The officers gathered at Espresso Yourself in Village Centre for Coffee with a Cop, a chance for residents to talk to them about whatever they wanted to.

“It is a state-wide initiative to increase community engagement with police,” Far South Coast LAC Sergeant Mick McPherson said.

“It is a chance for everyone to talk informally with police outside the station.”

Far South Coast LAC Senior Constable David Bates said this was the first time such an event had been held in Batemans Bay and that police planned to hold similar events at Moruya, Narooma and further down the coast.