NSW police end restriction on protests now Israeli president has left the country | Australian police and policing

The New South Wales police commissioner has ended a restriction that effectively banned marches in areas designated for protests after Israeli president Isaac Herzog left Australia.

On Tuesday, Mal Lanyon announced that the lockdown would end; This means protest organizers can once again use the form 1 system to facilitate marches with police in Sydney’s CBD and eastern suburbs without risking arrest.

Police were given the power to restrict protests for up to 90 days, in 14-day increments, after the Minns government passed legislation in parliament last year following the terror attack on Bondi beach. The ruling party faces a constitutional challenge and will appear in court on Thursday.

Police refused to facilitate the Palestine Action Group’s planned march from city hall to state parliament last week, citing restrictions on top of expanded powers given to police under the major events law for the duration of Herzog’s visit. Following the rally, widespread allegations of police brutality emerged.

Lanyon said recent protests in which officers used pepper spray and a controversial tactic known as kettling played “very little” role in the decision to end the restriction on public gatherings. But he said the powers were in place during Herzog’s visit earlier this month because he had “significant concerns about the safety of the community” at the time.

Two weeks ago, Lanyon cited Herzog’s four-day visit to Australia, which ended last Thursday, as a “factor” in his decision to extend the public gathering restriction declaration (Pard). He was asked Tuesday what other factors were but didn’t mention anything other than Herzog’s visit.

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“Of course, during the visit of a head of state, there was serious hostility towards that head of state,” he said.

“We needed a police force to provide protection to that head of state. Large events were planned around that head of state’s visit. We did not want a conflict between the protesters and the president.

“With Mr. Herzog leaving the country, I am satisfied that circumstances have changed and we can continue to conduct public meetings. [the] “Summary law,” he said.

Last Saturday, the Minns government declared Herzog’s visit a “major event” under the state’s major events legislation. This gave the police wide-ranging powers, including additional powers to move and search within the same designated area under Pard. The declaration blocks protesters’ ability to sue the state alleging police brutality.

Herzog was accused by a UN commission of inquiry, which did not speak on behalf of the UN, of inciting genocide against the Palestinian people by saying that all Gazans were responsible for the October 7 attacks on Israel. He denied the accusation and said his words were taken out of context.

The Palestine Action Group objected to the major incident declaration for Herzog’s visit at an emergency hearing last Monday, arguing it was a “backdoor” way to reduce the protests. They lost against the state, which argued that the powers were needed to ensure the security of the Israeli president and society.

PAG is considering appealing the decision. Meanwhile, lawyer Peter O’Brien has vowed to appeal the appointment again in the context of his client Jann Alhafny’s case. Alhafny, 69, is suing the state for personal injury, alleging he was “violently” pushed down by a police officer, fracturing his vertebrae in four places.

On Friday, the police watchdog announced it would launch an independent investigation into officers’ handling of the protest.

Prime Minister Chris Minns defended police actions, saying protesters had created an “impossible situation”.

Meanwhile, Stephen Lawrence, a member of his own government, said in the wake of the protest that violence was “pretty much an inevitable consequence” of Pard.

Lanyon was asked about his comments when he announced the end of Pard on Tuesday. He said: “I have no opinion on this… We have tried everything we can to provide organizers with a way to facilitate a safe and peaceful protest.

“I think Pard is working very well, but I think it’s about starting to get society back to normal.”