Lindt siege inquiry: Police negotiator had ‘four other jobs’ during cafe stand-off

THE police head negotiator for the Lindt siege was juggling another four stand-offs at the same time as hostages feared for their lives at gunpoint in the cafe.

Hostages flee the Lindt Cafe into the arms of waiting tactical officers. The inquest today heard the head negotiator was juggling four other high-risk stand-offs at the same time. Picture: AAP

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THE police head negotiator for the Lindt siege was juggling another four high-risk stand-offs at the same time as hostages feared for their lives at gunpoint in the cafe, it was ­revealed yesterday.

They included a machete-wielding offender, an armed robber and a domestic siege which the detective chief inspector, codenamed Graeme, had to manage due to what he said was simply “protocol”.

The stretched resources of the state’s overworked negotiating team, with no computers, no truck and only two fulltime negotiators, have been exposed at the inquest into the deadly 2014 siege.

Man Monis used a sawn-off shotgun during the stand off.

NO BYLINE Muslim protest at Lakemba train station. Sheik Man Haron Monis

“My mobile is never switched off,” Graeme, who worked a 33-hour shift before, during and after the Lindt siege on December 15 and 16, told the inquest yesterday.

The principal negotiator, known as Peter, who took over when the terrorist siege began, was working after just five hours’ sleep. The only fulltime negotiator at the time was an officer codenamed Reg.

As the siege continued, tensions rose, hostages escaped and gunman Man Monis maintained he had a bomb in his backpack, Graeme was dealing with the first high-risk incident at 4pm. At 10.12pm he was informed of a siege involving an attempted armed robbery. Later there was another incident on the state’s far north coast involving a domestic situation which ended after the Tactical Operations Unit was called in.

Heavily armed police, including the Bomb Squad surround the Lindt Cafe. Picture: Bill Hearne

Then at 2.37am, just 24 minutes after police stormed the Lindt Cafe and two people were dead, Graeme became engaged in an incident on the mid-north coast involving a man wielding a machete.

Meanwhile, the negotiators still did their work without computers or iPads, doing everything on paper.

Counsel assisting the ­inquest, Jeremy Gormly SC, asked Graeme if he could see the negotiating capacity of the police being “ramped up to the benefit of the community”.

Graeme said the team, which included part-time negotiators, were highly trained. Mr Gormly accused him of not answering the ­question.

The inquest also heard that the negotiating team’s truck was destroyed by lightning in 2011 and never replaced.

Barrister Katrina Dawson and cafe manager Tori Johnson. The pair were both killed as the siege drew to a close.

“One rather has the ­impression that the negotiating side of things is not getting the same support as other areas of activity? Is that a fair comment?” Mr Gormly asked Graeme.

“No, I think we do all we can with available resources,” Graeme responded.

“There’s only you, a truck in the garage and Reg,” Mr Gormly then asked.

“That’s right,” Graeme said.

Graeme said he was on call 24/7. He had started work at 5am on the morning of the siege and finished at 2pm the following day.

He was also managing the other four high-risk stand-offs.

“Was it the case that there was no one else in the NSW Police Force who could deal with these issues other than you?” Mr Gormly asked.

“That’s the case. That’s the protocols,” Graeme answered.

Another fulltime negotiator has been appointed — but the team still has no truck.

The inquiry continues.

Katrina Dawson, pictured with her husband Paul Smith, was killed by a police bullet fragment.