NSW Police hit with 26,000 complaints, 5000 found to have engaged in misconduct

Frontline cops have been inundated with complaints from the public, as NSW Police reveal 5000 cases of NSW Police officers found to have engaged in “misconduct” over the last five years.

Frontline cops have been inundated with complaints from members of the public, as NSW Police reveal 5000 cases of NSW Police officers found to have engaged in “misconduct” over the last five years.

New data released by NSW Police has uncovered more than 26,000 complaints were issued against officers from the 2019-20 financial year to 2023-24.

The data also revealed a total of 142 cops had been terminated by the NSW Police Force, while 103 had faced criminal prosecution.

Redfern Legal Centre police powers expert Samantha Lee told The Saturday Telegraph the number of cases of misconduct, termination and criminal action was “concerning but not surprising”.

Lawyer Samantha Lee concerned with the large number of complaints from the public against police misconduct. Picture Thomas Lisson.

“More complaints against police are leading to criminal charges,” Ms Lee said. “More and more police are being pursued by the criminal law system for cases of unlawful behaviour.”

The Redfern Legal Centre expert called on NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb to conduct an audit on cases of criminal and civil matters relating to officers.

“Systemic issues need to be identified to ensure this behaviour doesn’t continue,” she said. “There are increasing incidents of excessive force claims coming through, particularly against elderly people.

“There needs to be a rethink of policy – NSW Police need to reassess recruitment, monitor of behaviour of the workforce and stamp out this legacy of bad habits being passed down through the ranks.”

NSW Police continue to face face intense scrutiny following the death of 95-year-old nursing home patient Clare Nowland in Cooma last year.

The great-grandmother died after she was allegedly tasered twice by police during an arrest.

Suspended police officer Kristian White pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges over the elderly woman’s death and is set to face trial in November.

Clare Nowland.

Last week, it was also revealed 92-year-old Picton man, Ronald Hodge, had his arm broken during a police arrest.

It took NSW Police close to five months to charge a pair of NSW Police officers after they were called to intervene in what was allegedly mistook to be a domestic violence incident in January.

Ron Hodge, 92, who was allegedly assaulted by two police officers when they were called to a domestic violence incident at his Picton home in January. Jane Dempster/Daily Telegraph.

Meanwhile, last week an internal review was announced after a cop admitted he turned his breathalyser around so it wouldn’t register a reading when he discovered the driver he’d pulled over was the son of a police sergeant.

Senior Constable Tom Harper has pleaded guilty in the NSW Local Court to not carrying out his lawful duty as a police officer when he pulled over the driver at Narrandera last August.

Senior Constable Tom Harper, NSW Police. Photo: Supplied

A NSW Police spokeswoman told The Saturday Telegraph the department “takes very seriously the behaviour and performance of our officers and has robust disciplinary processes in place if officers fail to meet the required standards”.

“We conduct thorough investigations of our officers,” she said. “Disciplinary action can include loss of rank or increment which has significant salary ramifications, a suite of warning notices and performance plans and removal from the organisation.

“Where matters are deemed to meet the criminal threshold, criminal charges will be laid.”

The spokeswoman said the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has oversight of all investigations conducted by NSW Police.

“NSW Police Force have a comprehensive seven-stage process in place to ensure we recruit candidates that are most suitable to a career in Policing.”