Lawyer for a solicitor intimidated by NSW Police anti-bikie task force has condemned ‘outrageous’ behaviour

The lawyer for a solicitor that was targeted by the NSW Police Force’s anti-bikie squad has slammed the organisation’s behaviour as lacking in ethics and ‘outrageous’

A lawyer has questioned the ethics of some officers within Strike Force Raptor Picture: NSW Police

The lawyer representing a northern NSW solicitor that was harassed and intimidated by officers from the NSW Police Force’s elite anti-bikie unit has slammed their behaviour as “outrageous” while calling for an inquiry into the unit.

A report into Strike Force Raptor’s conduct by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission found that in 2019 three officers targeted the solicitor on the day of a hearing where the man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was due to represent a bikie client charged over alleged animal cruelty charges.

The report found that two officers had been given instructions by their supervisor to target the solicitor on his way to court and had engaged in serious police misconduct with the “deliberate, deceitful and malicious harassment” of the solicitor.

The Commission heard evidence that the supervisor told the members of the unit that were travelling from Sydney to give evidence in the hearing to “let (the solicitor) know that the whole of Raptor’s up here. He wanted Raptor. The whole of Raptor’s up here”.

Speaking to The Daily Examiner, Grafton lawyer Joe Fahey said the treatment of his client was disgusting, and the behaviour of the officers involved outrageous.

“Could you imagine what would have happened to two bikies if they harassed a police prosecutor on their way to court?” he said.

“The entire police force would be up in arms if the situation was reversed, and I fail to see how this is any different.”

While the LECC report fell short of recommending the officers involved be removed from their duties, Mr Fahey said that should be the bare minimum punishment of those involved.

“I’m of the view that as a citizen of NSW we shouldn’t have people like this in the NSW Police Force,” he said.

“The conduct of these officers was outrageous and the fact that it was sanctioned by a senior officer was outrageous.

“The fact that it had to be explained to him by another senior officer that the strike force couldn’t interfere with a solicitor suggests that certain things are lacking in regards to the ethics of Strike Force Raptor.”

A lawyer has questioned the ethics of some officers within Strike Force Raptor Picture: NSW Police

Mr Fahey said he believed the officers involved had formed the belief that they had become “untouchable”, a view echoed by the LECC report.

“The Commission is concerned about the sense of entitlement that can develop in an elite strike force and was demonstrated by this conduct,” the report said.

“The task of these officers is to enforce the law. If the unlawful conduct engaged in by these officers is allowed to continue and be condoned because of some imagined higher purpose, there can be no good to come from it for the people of New South Wales.”

Mr Fahey confirmed that civil proceedings would be lodged, and called for a complete overhaul of Strike Force Raptor.

“It’s unbelievable this happened in the first place and I think an inquiry, whether it by Parliamentary or otherwise, is required into the conduct of Strike Force Raptor over the years,” he said.