An independent inquiry into reports of police brutality at a protest in Sydney against Isaac Herzog’s visit will look into “incidents of alleged misconduct on the part of the authorities”.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (Lecc) said on Friday it would look into police response after receiving a “significant number of complaints”.
“The Commission has decided to investigate the police operation at and around Sydney Town Hall on the evening of Monday 9 February 2026, including incidents of alleged misconduct by NSW Police officers against people attending the venue for a protest,” Lecc said in a statement.
“The commission will obtain and review all available material, including video and phone footage, documents, records and other information held by the NSW police force.”
The watchdog said it would hold inquiries as part of the inquiry process and provide a “public report” to the NSW Parliament on the investigation.
NSW Premier, Chris Minnes, Justifies the actions of the policedespite a growing chorus of criticism. He said there would be no independent inquiry into what happened.
“We can’t blame the police for doing what we asked them to do,” he said Thursday.
“I’m certainly not throwing the NSW Police under the bus in these circumstances for doing a very difficult job that millions of people are grateful for.”
Remember It rejected the suggestions on Tuesday His own anti-protest restrictions created what he considered an “impossible situation” for police to deal with thousands of protesters.
Rally organisers, Labor backbenchers and Green MPs accused the Premier and police of creating an “unsafe situation” for those in attendance.
Police pepper-sprayed protesters and Guardian Australia saw several instances of authorities confining protesters to an area known as Ketling in a controversial tactic.
Videos from the rally showed officers repeatedly beating some protesters and dragging Muslims who were praying.
The police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, apologized only for “any offence” after police dragged away people praying outside the town hall.
The The Sheikh led the prayer It described the behavior of the police as “unfriendly and aggressive”.
State Greens legal spokeswoman, Sue Higginson, said on Monday it was “an important first step towards transparency” after a “terrible experience”.
Higginson attended the protest and referred NSW Police to the commission earlier this week.
“Although the Prime Minister said in Parliament yesterday that he did not support an independent investigation into police actions, I am relieved that Lecc has decided to take this step,” she said.
“We are fortunate in NSW that we have a strong police oversight body in Lake and I am very grateful that they have the power to act on the reports they receive.”
The Palestine The action group backed the inquiry with spokesperson Amal Nasser saying Monday’s police operation “had all the hallmarks of a police riot targeting peaceful demonstrators gathered to oppose the visit of President Isaac Herzog.”
“Under Minn’s Labor government, civil rights in NSW have been steadily eroded,” Nasser said.
“Monday’s events represent the dangerous extreme to which people, young and old, have been forced to exercise their democratic right to protest.
“We have already seen reports of elderly women being seriously injured, worshipers being attacked after being allowed to pray, and minors being arrested during a peaceful demonstration.”
Australia’s Human Rights Watch director, Daniela Gavshon, said the scenes of the protests were “disturbing and distressing”.
“Lecc’s announcement that it will investigate the police operation is an important step in addressing any wrongdoing and ensuring that police officers who used excessive force are held accountable,” she said.
