The NSW Police Force says it will consider recommendations of and has issued a response to this week’s state’s Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ+ Hate Crimes report.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb says she acknowledges the pain experienced by individuals and their families thanks to ‘the actions and attitudes of the past’ but that the force ‘has made significant efforts since the 1990s to reassess and improve the ways in which it relates to the LGBTIQ+ community and responds to LGBTIQ+ concerns’.
Policies, education, and training now ‘entrenched in the practices of modern policing’ did not exist 30 years ago, Commissioner Webb has said via media release.
The comments come after the release of findings and recommendations of a state inquiry into unsolved deaths of LGBTIQ people or people presumed to be LGBTIQ that may have been hate crimes between 1970 and 2010.
The inquiry started eighteen months ago.
Commissioner recommends forensic tests of cold case evidence
The NSW government says the inquiry examined more than 150,000 documents from 40 years of police files, coronial files and other sources in relation to LGBTIQ hate-related deaths.
The deaths of 32 people were also the subject of a series of public inquiry hearings, with Commissioner John Sackar’s findings as to the manner and cause of each death included in a final inquiry report delivered to NSW Governor Margaret Beazley on Monday.
Many of the recommendations deal with particulars of cases reviewed in the inquiry, while some address best practice for police officers handling LGBTIQ+ related cases.
But Commissioner Sackar has also recommended a systematic police review of all unsolved homicides between 1970 to 2010 to allow for modern forensic testing of evidence.
The commissioner wants the audit to include a list of evidence kept in relation to each death and their whereabouts.
‘That review should result in appropriately and accurately recorded information about each matter so that there is a real prospect of all matters being reviewed thereafter on a regular basis, every two years,’ Commissioner Sackar has recommended.
‘This may require the scope of such future reviews to be limited in an appropriate manner to ensure regularity,’ Commissioner Sackar says.
Officers working on unsolved homicides should promptly identify evidence in need of forensic testing ‘in light of possible technological advances,’ the commissioner recommends.
NSW Police relations with LGBQTI+ community addressed
Social, legal and cultural factors affecting the LGBTIQ community have been discussed in the inquiry, with thanks to the participation of historians, advocates, writers, and others with lived experience of the period under question.
But the relationship between the LGBTIQ community and the NSW Police Force, including the police response to violence and deaths suspected of being hate crimes, has been a major focus.
The full statement on behalf of the NSW Police Force is as follows:
The New South Wales Police Force acknowledges the findings and the significant work undertaken by the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ+ Hate Crimes.
Firstly, NSWPF recognises the victims and the enduring pain and suffering experienced by their families and loved ones. The courage and resilience shown by these families in their pursuit for truth and justice is profoundly acknowledged and respected by the Force.
From its inception, the Commissioner of Police – and the NSWPF as a whole – has fully supported the Inquiry, recognising its critical role in addressing the unsolved deaths and fostering better relations with the LGBTIQ+ community.
The level of assistance provided by the NSWPF to the Inquiry has been substantial; of note, more than 200 summonses have been responded to, and the NSWPF has produced more than 100,000 electronic documents.
It’s extremely important for the NSWPF to acknowledge the past shortcomings in historical investigations, particularly in responding to violence and discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community, and in the exhibit management of cases relating to the Inquiry.
From the outset, NSWPF has recognised the past inadequacies and has been committed to adapting and evolving the culture and practices of the organisation.
While there has been a significant advancement in training, forensic technology, management of records and exhibits, and greatly enhanced investigative practices, the NSWPF recognises that there are areas where further improvements can be made.
It is also pertinent to highlight the significant initiatives and reforms undertaken by the NSWPF in recent years to improve the organisation’s relationship with the LGBTIQ+ community.
The implementation of these initiatives is not only aimed at ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment for the community, but also for within the Force itself.
Of note, NSWPF has developed the Sexuality Gender Diversity and Intersex (SGDI) Portfolio and the Gay Lesbian Liaison Officer / LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officer Program (GLLO Program); both programs play a crucial role in developing trust and respect between the Force and the LGBTIQ+ community.
GLLOs participate in various community engagements and events, working with stakeholder groups and government agencies to promote inclusive and respectful community engagement.
As part of NSWPF’s commitment to developing a stronger relationship with the LGBTIQ+ community, the organisation proudly participates in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
In March 2023, NSWPF supported the Sydney WorldPride events by providing a safe environment for all participants and committed to having a close working relationship with event organisers and the LGBTIQ+ community, as well as placing an emphasis on ensuring the policing response was sensitive to the needs of the community.
The Corporate Sponsor for Communities role is another key component within NSWPF that involves directing and leading the strategic objectives on LGBTIQ+ issues, including policy, strategy, and practice on initiatives that promote understanding, respect, and inclusivity.
Finally, in response to the recommendations presented by the Inquiry, as contained in its comprehensive report, the NSWPF is committed to a thorough and considered evaluation of each recommendation. While some recommendations align closely with initiatives already underway, the recommendations will be thoroughly assessed as part of the ongoing efforts to enhance the service and accountability of the NSW Police Force.
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