Police are renewing their appeal for information into a man who has been missing from Armidale since 1993, after a reward relating to his disappearance was increased to $100,000.

William “Bill” Roach, who was aged 25 at the time, was last seen on Grafton Road Armidale, on Friday 31 December 1993.

Strike Force Annan was established in 2003 to examine the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Troy Grant has approved a reward increase of up $100,000 for information leading to the location of William Roach.

This is an increase of $50,000 from the prior reward.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Toy Grant said the smallest piece of information could provide clues needed to close the case.

“Mr Roach’s family deserve to know what happened to him. They have waited long enough for answers about his disappearance,” Mr Grant said.

Acting Inspector Stuart Gray, Crime Manager at New England Local Area Command, says he hopes the reward will help solve the case.

“We hope that this increase in the reward will encourage anyone with information to come forward and help bring a resolution to this investigation”.

“I’d urge anyone with information, regardless of how insignificant you think it may be, to come forward,” Acting Inspector Gray said.

Investigators from Strike Force Annan have been following a number of lines of inquiry and executed a crime scene warrant at a property on the outskirts of Armidale in late February.

Anyone with any information can contact Armidale Detectives on 02 6771 0699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Police from New England Local Area Command (LAC) will next week host information sessions to discuss ways police and Aboriginal people can work together to create stronger, safer communities.

The information sessions will take place at various locations within the command, in the state’s north-west, between Monday (25 July 2016) and Thursday (28 July 2016) next week.

The sessions are being conducted as part of the NSW Police Aboriginal Strategic Direction (2012 – 2017), which is a blueprint for how LACs engage and interact with Aboriginal communities.

This policy aims to build strong relationships between police and Aboriginal people, and deliver meaningful outcomes for their local communities.

It has four key priority areas: to ensure community safety; improve communication and understanding between police and Aboriginal people; reduced involvement and improved safety of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system; and Aboriginal youth offending.

“Over the next few months, we are hosting information sessions at more than 40 commands across NSW to enhance community knowledge about the Aboriginal Strategic Direction,” NSW Police Force Corporate Spokesperson on Aboriginal Issues, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, said.

“It’s not the first time we have reached out to Aboriginal communities about the policy; we held a similar round of community-engagement activities in 2012 and 2013.

“However, we are taking this opportunity to revisit Aboriginal communities across the state – including within New England LAC – to reinforce the powerful ways in which police and Aboriginal people can work together to build stronger, safer communities,” he said.

“As the Aboriginal Strategic Direction is up for review next year, we will also be seeking input on how we can forge even more productive partnerships between police and Aboriginal people in the future,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.

Representatives from the NSW Police Aboriginal Co-ordination Team will run the information sessions, which are taking place within New England LAC at the following locations and subsequent times:

Monday 25 July

12.30pm: Armidale Kent House (141 Faulkner Street, Armidale)

Tuesday 26 July

11am: Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council (187 Falconer Street, South Guyra)

2pm: Glen Innes Aboriginal Land Council (181 Lang Street, Glen Innes)

Wednesday 27 July

8.30am: Linking Together Centre (16 Waratah Avenue, Inverell)

11am: Best Access Centre (4 Amethyst Street, Tingha)

Thursday 28 July

10am: Tenterfield Shire Council (247 Rouse Street, Tenterfield)

Police are investigating following a single vehicle crash south of Tamworth today.

About 3pm (Tuesday 19 July 2016), police and emergency services were called to a crash on the New England Highway, about 25km south of Tamworth.

Initial investigations suggest a Peugeot with four occupants in the vehicle, rolled leaving them trapped for a short time.

A 73-year-old male front seat passenger died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.

Three other people in the car, the 64-year-old male driver and two 64-year-old female rear seat passengers were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics.

One female passenger was airlifted by Westpac Rescue Helicopter to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle with serious injuries.

The driver and other female passenger were taken by Ambulance to Tamworth Base Hospital with minor injuries.

A crime scene was established with Crash Investigation Unit officers in attendance.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are continuing and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.