\n<\/p>\n
An independent inquiry into reports of police brutality at a Sydney protest against Isaac Herzog\u2019s visit will examine \u201cincidents of alleged misconduct on the part of officers\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (Lecc) said on Friday it would examine the police response after receiving \u201ca significant number of complaints\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commission has decided that it is in the public interest to investigate the police operation at Sydney town hall and surrounds on the evening of Monday 9 February 2026, including incidents of alleged misconduct on the part of NSW police officers against persons attending that location for a protest,\u201d the Lecc said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commission will obtain and review all available material, including video and phone footage, documents, records and other information, including that held by the NSW police force.\u201d<\/p>\n The watchdog said it would conduct hearings as part of the investigative process and provide a \u201cpublic report\u201d to the NSW parliament concerning the investigation.<\/p>\n The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has backed the actions of police<\/a>, despite a growing chorus of criticism. He has said he would not conduct an independent inquiry into what occurred.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t blame the police for doing what we asked them to do,\u201d he said on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m certainly not going to throw NSW police under the bus in these circumstances for doing what is an incredibly difficult job, a job that millions of people in this state are grateful for.\u201d<\/p>\n Minns on Tuesday rejected suggestions<\/a> that his own anti-protest restrictions had created what he deemed to be an \u201cimpossible situation\u201d for police dealing with thousands of protesters.<\/p>\n Rally organisers, Labor backbenchers and Green MPs accused the premier and police of creating an \u201cunsafe situation\u201d for attendees.<\/p>\n Police pepper sprayed protesters and Guardian Australia saw officers on multiple occasions confining protesters to an area in a controversial tactic known as kettling.<\/p>\n Videos from the rally showed officers repeatedly punching some protesters and dragging Muslims who were praying.<\/p>\n The police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, has apologised only \u201cfor any offence that may have been taken\u201d after police dragged away people praying outside town hall.<\/p>\n The sheikh leading the prayer<\/a> has described the police behaviour as \u201cunhinged and aggressive\u201d.<\/p>\n The state Greens justice spokesperson, Sue Higginson, said it was the \u201cfirst important step forward for transparency\u201d after the \u201cawful experience\u201d of Monday.<\/p>\n Higginson attended the protest and earlier this week referred NSW police to the commission.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m relieved that the Lecc have decided to take this course of action, despite the premier saying yesterday in parliament that he did not support an independent investigation into police actions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are lucky in NSW that we have a strong police oversight body in the Lecc and I am very grateful that they have the authority to act on the reports that they have received.\u201d<\/p>\n