NSW Police misconduct probe launches private hearings over February Town Hall protest

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) is conducting a rare set of private hearings into the conduct of NSW Police during the February 9 protest at Sydney’s Town Hall, which coincided with President Isaac Herzog’s visit. Dubbed Operation Makalu, the probe was triggered by more than 800 public complaints, the highest volume in the commission’s history. After reviewing over 1,000 hours of CCTV footage and 450 submitted items, the LECC will hold five weeks of closed hearings, followed by open sessions featuring senior commissioned officers.

The inquiry focuses on police planning, the deployment of pepper spray and how its use was recorded, as well as any breaches of the Public Assembly Restriction that declared the rally unlawful. Officers under the rank of inspector will give evidence under pseudonyms, a measure the police argue is needed to safeguard mental health and community relations. The commission must eventually produce a final report for parliament, though a submission date has not been set.