NSW police and government want to ban encrypted phones to help stop gangsters doing business

After 16 murders in two years there is a new front in the war against Sydney’s gangland criminals.

The state’s top cop has a stern warning for brazen criminals carrying out hits on suburban streets – don’t get comfortable because we are after you, and your devices.

Commissioner Karen Webb told the Saturday Telegraph police were working with the Government to push through unprecedented legislation to ban encrypted devices.

Criminals use the phones to plan and auction off gangland murders, steal and torch getaway cars and organise drug deals.

Two women were the latest victims of the bloody war gripping Sydney’s underworld, taking the death toll to 16 people shot dead in two years.

Commissioner Karen Webb says police are working with the government to push through a ban on encrypted devices. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Commissioner Webb said that while the double murder of Lametta Fadallah and Amneh ‘Amy’ Al-Hazzouri in Panania last week was “targeted”, it was too early in the investigation to speculate on the motive or suggest that it is linked to organised crime.

But while expert police on the ground were working to “identify the offenders and bring them to justice as quickly as possible,” police were working closely with lawmakers behind the scenes to introduce “legislation to prohibit encrypted devices and seize unexplained wealth accumulated through crime”.

“Don’t get comfortable because we are after you,” Commissioner Webb said.

“The safety and wellbeing of every citizen in NSW remains our number one priority and we continue to do everything possible to prevent these violent acts from continuing.”

The law reforms include new prohibition orders to target high-risk individuals likely to use dedicated encrypted devices to avoid law enforcement and enhanced powers to target and confiscate unexplained wealth from criminal gangs.

Lametta Fadlallah was one of the victims of the Revesby shootings.

Commissioner Webb reaffirmed her confidence in the detectives on the ground, after copping criticism that her team were ill equipped to stop the “sophisticated” gangland criminals.

“I’m very proud of the work all NSW police officers are doing in the community and the tireless and dogged efforts of investigators and specialists to solve major and serious crime.”

Police Minister and Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the phones are crucial because “you’ve got all the contacts, all their drug connections”.

“If they are doing a hit on somebody they are using these phones to put messages out through these encrypted devices,” Mr Toole said.

The legislation is due to be introduced in the next three weeks after being approved by Cabinet in the past eight weeks.