The Minns government is facing calls to clarify the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission’s powers to obtain police documents, as the LECC announced the deferral of public hearings for Operation Makalu, the probe into police violence against peaceful protesters on 9 February at Sydney Town Hall.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission have called for the government to progress legislative changes to clarify their powers to obtain information from NSW Police.
Currently, police have the ability to use legal loopholes to hide legal advice from the LECC, de-identify officers accused of misconduct, and to withhold other essential information from the independent watchdog.
Integrity
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice and solicitor Sue Higginson said, ‘Public confidence in law enforcement depends on integrity, accountability and transparency, and demands an independent watchdog with the powers it needs to investigate police misconduct and critical incidents.
‘Labor Premier Chris Minns has pioneered an extraordinary law and order agenda which has included an unprecedented expansion of police powers, yet he seems to be unwilling to provide the necessary oversight of the police by the independent Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. This is a dangerous situation,’ said Ms Higginson.
‘Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon’s public statement that there has been “no reluctance” from police to share information with the LECC is quite simply detached from evidence.
‘The LECC’s Chief Commissioner has described police’s approach towards information sharing as “difficult” and “overly defensive”, it seems we have a Police Commissioner either in denial or avoiding the truth,’ she said.
No proposal
‘I have raised the LECC’s clear requests for the powers that it needs with the minister responsible, John Graham, and he has been clear there is no proposal on the table to implement them. I have attempted to change the laws myself in parliament, and the Minns Labor government have teamed up with the NSW Liberals to oppose these essential anti-corruption and accountability measures.
‘In this term of government, the Attorney General has been forced to take the police to the Supreme Court just to get documents about the police use of beanbag rounds that killed Krista Kach,’ said Sue Higginson.
‘The premier needs to explain why the government won’t agree to the LECC’s requests for legislative clarifications to ensure proper access to police records in future,’ she said.
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