NSW Police Violence: Call to Action
- Gregory Andrews
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 10
I've watched video from the Sydney Town Hall protest on 9 February 2026 opposing the visit of Israel’s President Isaac Herzog. I've heard directly from friends who were there. And I feel the same thing many Australians are feeling right now: shock, anger, and a sour, creeping fear about what our democracy is becoming.
NSW Police say the situation escalated, that officers were assaulted, that pepper spray was deployed, and that people were arrested. But, footage circulating widely and reports from credible witnesses show something that should never be normalised: force that looks like punishment, including people on the ground who appear already controlled being kidney-punched, and people who appear to be praying being dragged away.
Both things can be true: there may have been confrontations, and there may also have been excessive force. That's exactly why this can't be dealt with through internal spin or “move along, nothing to see here” briefings. When the public can see violence on their screens, trust isn't repaired by statements. Trust is repaired by independent scrutiny, evidence preservation, and consequences where the law has been broken.
And let's be clear, this isn't about whether you agree with the protest’s cause. It's about whether Australian governments and police accept a basic democratic line: you don't assault people who are non-threatening, restrained, or already under control. If that line blurs, it blurs not only for Palestine solidarity rallies. It blurs for everyone.
If we accept violence against peaceful protesters as normal, we are teaching the state that it can do it again.
What I've done
I've written two letters calling for accountability and independent oversight:
Letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (10 February 2026): Read/download PDF
Letter to Premier Chris Minns (10 February 2026): Read/download PDF
They're deliberately written in plain language with a small number of concrete demands: reaffirm the right to peaceful protest, refer the matter for independent investigation, preserve and publish evidence, hold perpetrators accountable.
A call to action: Four things you can do
Write to Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Albanese. Use my letters as examples, and add your own voice: what you saw, why you are alarmed, and what you are demanding. The most important words to include are these: independent investigation, and preservation of all footage and operational records.
Make a complaint to the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. It exists for public complaints about NSW Police conduct.
Preserve evidence properly. If you filmed anything, save the original unedited file. Social media versions are often compressed or stripped of metadata. Write a short note with time, location, what the clip shows, and how you obtained it. If you share publicly, consider blurring faces of civilians to reduce the risk of doxxing or later targeting. If someone you know was arrested or injured, offer them the original file for their legal support.
Support people who were harmed or arrested. Encourage anyone injured to seek medical attention and document injuries. If people need advice about police complaints, organisations like Redfern Legal Centre provide information and a police complaints advice service.
The line we must hold
Sadly, our politicians seem more interested in point-scoring and spin. But I'm interested in the line that keeps democracies from corroding: protest isn't a privilege granted by the state; it is a right. Policing must be lawful and proportionate, not retaliatory.
Footage and reports clearly show police brutality. The victims and the broader Australian communnity deserve accountability. We deserve an evidence-based explanation and accoutability that match what people can see with their own eyes.
Either way, silence is not an option.
Thank you Gregory for your leadership. This shocking event was part of the tsunami of social change we are experiencing. Your advice was much appreciated and I wrote to the LECC and our so called leaders: Premier Minns and PM Albanese. Exercising my democratic roles as an active citizen gave me some solace. I see that the LECC has responded already to this demand! WELL DONE all ! I ask your readers to take another step and talk about what more we can do to care better for society. Such wanton Police brutality is the hallmark of a state captured by vested interests. We need to challenge that and bring back human rights for all citizens
Yes, Greg, I have now watched more footage and written letters to LECC, Premier Chris Minns and PM Albanese. Evidence caught on video footage shows a disgusting display of uncontrolled hate and brutality from police: Just watch https://youtu.be/wz2LgROmYg0?si=rtbzxnb7f-1cG2VB
Thank you Gregory. You have given me a way forward. I am shocked and fearful of our leaders who set all of this in motion. I witnessed police harassment at the Newcastle blockade where they were instructed to turn on sirens and lights at 4.00am to stop every vehicle for a breathalyzer test. However, what I fear most are the comments on social media condoning police violence. One accused a protester being arrested of pretending to fall down but close analysis of the footage shows the police officer tripped him and slammed him into the ground. This is very scary and maybe part of the collapse of our society which seems to be under way.
What an HORRENDOUS display of police brutality. One of which 'officer' KNEELS ON THE HEAD of the protestor and then pulls his/her head back at an unnatural angle, while the other thug punches the person repeatedly on the body. HOW SICKENING AND DISGUSTING IS THIS!!!!
This is disgusting and sickening beyond belief. Our Prime Minister pretends to care about violence in the community so what is he going to do about these police? Why are the cops not wearing identification numbers or cameras?
The links to the letters you wrote, do not work.