NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson has pushed back against calls to arm the private security sector at Jewish events, telling the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion that allowing certain groups special privileges could be seen as favouritism.
Police responsibility, not private groups
Appearing before the commission on Monday, Hudson said the "protection of all members of the community is the responsibility of the police," not individuals or groups. He expressed a strong preference for a "user pays" model where event organisers or venues pay for police presence, rather than arming private security guards.
The commission is examining security arrangements for the Jewish community, with some witnesses lobbying for the Community Security Group (CSG) to be armed following the Bondi terror attack in 2024. CSG, led by security professionals and supported by trained volunteers, monitors threats and provides security for Jewish events. Its guards can carry weapons at schools and synagogues but were unarmed at a Hanukkah celebration in December.
Favouritism concerns
Hudson said the police force is generally opposed to individual communities, including the Jewish community, being able to carry arms or use body armour. "It's our opinion that allowing certain areas of society, no matter what those areas are, to have special privileges in relation to their security, would further fracture … relationships that are fairly tenuous between different groups," he said. "It would certainly be looked upon by others as the police or governments … showing favouritism to that group."
In the days after the Bondi attack, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government was "actively" considering expanding access to guns for CSG.
Alternative views from witnesses
Risk consultant Gavriel Schneider told the commissioner that the private security sector should be armed at open-air events as a "valuable alternative or support" to existing police resources, a view backed by the Australian Jewish Association. Its president, Robert Gregory, said the Jewish community would not feel safe attending open-air events "unless there is armed protection" and called for a government review of the protective capabilities of licensed security guards.
"If the police can be there, that's great, but they can't be all the time," Gregory said. "When we have a communal organisation that is willing to protect the community (CSG), that is trained … I think it just makes sense that you allow them to have the capabilities to protect that community."
Police response and coordination
The interim report of the royal commission found no gap in current laws that could have prevented the shooting but called for greater coordination of policing at Jewish festivals and events. About 2,000 people were expected at the Chanukah by the Sea event in December, with four officers tasked to attend, though it was unclear if they stayed for the entire event.
Counter-terrorism expert Scott Wilson told the commission that the response and speed of police officers was "tremendous," but limited by the fact "they weren't the right officers to be there." One alleged shooter was shot within five minutes of the attack, and the second was apprehended within eight. Wilson noted that in the UK, general duties officers don't carry firearms, but specialist officers require 12 weeks of intensive training, compared with nine days for an average Australian officer. "You should have specialist officers there as quickly as you can to be able to deal with a terrorist attack with long arms," he said.
New measures implemented
Hudson said NSW police had implemented a range of measures after the Bondi attack, including a new armed response command announced in February and a 24-hour operations centre providing liaison to CSG for major Jewish events. "If our risk assessment or threat assessment indicates that we require an armed response, we will have an armed response," he said. "We are very mindful and attuned to the sensitivities of the Jewish people and we will always discuss their security needs."
