Experts Condemn Police Violence at Sydney Anti-Herzog Rally
Policing experts have strongly criticised the New South Wales police response to a protest in Sydney against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit, labelling footage of officers repeatedly punching demonstrators as "disturbing" and "disappointing". The incident occurred outside Town Hall in the CBD on Monday, where violent clashes erupted between police and protesters opposing Herzog's Australian tour.
"Unreasonable Conditions" Blamed for Confrontation
Dr Luke McNamara, a University of NSW law faculty member who attended the rally, argued the violence was "the direct consequence" of what he called "unreasonable conditions" imposed by the Minns government. These restrictions gave police enhanced move-on powers and effectively prevented protesters from marching from Town Hall to State Parliament.
"Those events are likely never to have happened if police had permitted, indeed if the government had permitted, protesters to exercise their lawful right to protest," McNamara stated. He described watching footage of a man being repeatedly punched in the body by police and a group of praying Muslims being "dragged away" by officers, saying there appeared to be "no reason" such force was necessary.
Premier Defends "Proportionate" Response
Premier Chris Minns defended the police actions on Tuesday, calling the response "proportionate" and stating officers were "repeatedly confronted" by people attempting to breach containment lines. He cautioned against judging incidents based on "15-second social media posts" without full context.
However, Associate Professor Dr Vicki Sentas, another UNSW policing expert, described the available footage as "a case study in disturbing and unnecessary police violence" and expressed concern about "poor and dangerous crowd control." She suggested the response did not appear to meet legal criteria for lawful use of force and called for investigation by the NSW police watchdog.
Use of Force Guidelines Under Scrutiny
The incident has brought NSW police use of force guidelines under intense scrutiny. While the complete manual isn't publicly available, a copy published by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission in 2023 states police "should use no more force than is reasonably necessary" and "must not use force to inflict punishment."
The manual specifies "weaponless control" as an option, which can involve punches or strikes designed to achieve compliance or distraction, but emphasises officers must constantly reassess their use of force even in challenging circumstances.
Historical Context of Police Force Assessments
The debate over what constitutes reasonable force has precedent in NSW courts. A 2022 Supreme Court decision examined a case where four officers were involved in an incident where a 16-year-old boy was tasered, pepper-sprayed, and repeatedly struck with a baton.
The prosecution argued one officer's judgment was clouded by what's known in policing as "a red mist of rage" - a loss of self-control from frustration and anger. The officer, who had left the force by the hearing, argued the baton strikes were proportionate responses intended to achieve "pain compliance" with a drug-affected youth. He was later cleared of common assault charges.
Complex Assessment of Police Actions
Vincent Hurley, a former NSW police senior detective now teaching criminology at Macquarie University, acknowledged the complexity of assessing such incidents. "It's incredibly complex and it's a no-win situation for anybody," he said, noting that "on the surface of it... I think I can see how the police believed they were justified in using that force."
He emphasised the importance of understanding what happened in the "30 seconds before" each violent clip shared online when determining whether force was excessive.
The incident has sparked significant debate about protest policing, use of force protocols, and the balance between maintaining public order and protecting lawful protest rights in New South Wales.
