Concerns are growing over the police response to a protest in Sydney on Monday against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. A policing expert who attended the rally has described the clashes between police and protesters as “disappointing” and preventable.
‘Lawful Use of Force’ Questioned
Dr. Luke McNamara, of the University of NSW’s law faculty, stated the violence was a “direct consequence” of what he described as “unreasonable conditions” imposed by the government, which he said had “effectively quarantined” protesters within a police containment line. He noted that police should use physical force “extremely rarely,” only when a crowd is out of control and posing a threat.
Dr. McNamara said he witnessed footage of officers repeatedly punching a man and “dragging away” a group of praying Muslims, stating there appeared to be “no reason” for that level of force. Associate Professor Vicki Sentas, as well a policing expert at UNSW, described the available footage as depicting “a case study in disturbing and unnecessary police violence” and raised concerns about “poor and dangerous crowd control.”
Both experts questioned whether the police response met the legal criteria for lawful use of force, with Dr. Sentas suggesting the incidents warrant investigation by the NSW police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (Lecc). The NSW police use of force manual states officers “should use no more force than is reasonably necessary” and “must not use force to inflict punishment.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns defended the police response as “proportionate,” stating officers were responding to attempts to breach the containment line and should not be judged based on “15-second social media posts” without full context. Former NSW police senior detective Vincent Hurley suggested a review of the “30 seconds before” each incident captured on video is needed to determine if the use of force was justified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the protest?
The protest was held outside Sydney Town Hall on Monday to oppose Isaac Herzog’s Australian tour.
What did Dr. McNamara say about the government’s role?
Dr. McNamara stated the violence was a “direct consequence” of the “unreasonable conditions” the government imposed on protesters, effectively containing them within a police line.
What is the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (Lecc)?
The Lecc is the NSW police watchdog and Dr. Sentas believes it would be appropriate for them to investigate allegations of excessive force.
As investigations unfold, it remains to be seen whether further details will emerge regarding the events of Monday, and what impact this may have on future protest management strategies in New South Wales. Will a comprehensive review of police protocols be undertaken in light of these events?
