Inquiry finds limited evidence of protester violence at Sydney rally against Israeli president's visit
New South Wales' police conduct watchdog has opened an inquiry into a February protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. Evidence so far suggests protesters were largely peaceful.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (Lecc), the New South Wales watchdog that oversees police, opened its inquiry on Monday into a February protest in Sydney, Australia, against a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. It said protesters were largely peaceful and that there is limited evidence of physical violence by them. The findings matter because the inquiry will test whether the police response was justified.
The commission began its investigation after widespread allegations of police brutality at the demonstration outside Sydney Town Hall. Viral video showed officers punching several protesters and grabbing Muslim worshippers who were performing sunset prayers.
What the commission is examining
Counsel assisting the commission, Kirsten Edwards SC, said in her opening address that the evidence is far from complete. In her account, the protest was largely peaceful early on, and later conduct that police described as aggressive was mostly verbal and tied to a wish to march. Footage also shows organisers at times seemingly trying to defuse conflict with police.
The commission is looking at the use of OC (pepper) spray on people with mobility impairments and close to faces, frequent pushing and shoving during dispersal, police moving at speed and in formation toward fleeing protesters, use of force during arrests, and some police boasting about gratuitous force. It is also examining the allegation that protesters were contained in an area they could not leave. Edwards noted there were also instances of officers caring for elderly and vulnerable people. The commission has reviewed 1,000 hours of footage and received 400 public complaints.
It will also consider whether the conduct was endemic or sanctioned or encouraged by senior officers. A pre-protest briefing, at which senior officers including Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon spoke, was not recorded and no notes were taken. A common recollection was that officers were told the protest should stay static and a march not be permitted.
Charges and police response
Police charged 30 people with offences including hindering arrest and assaulting police, but almost a dozen of those charges have been withdrawn. A joint hearing set for July 2027 now involves 17 defendants. The law that restricted marching was later found unconstitutional by the state's highest court.
David Sulan SC, speaking for Lanyon, cited an unprecedented level of serious verbal abuse directed at police and said there were many positive acts of policing. The hearings now move into five weeks of private examinations.
