Police apologise to NSW gay-hate Inquiry over ‘offensive’ submissions

A state’s police force has apologised to a world-first inquiry into gay-hate killings after “frankly unacceptable” comments.

NSW Police has issued an apology to a “world-first” inquiry into gay-hate killings, claiming they did not intend to cause offence or “pressure” the Commissioner.

Mark Tedeschi, KC, acting for NSW Police, took the stand at the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate-crimes on Tuesday morning.

He said he had been asked by Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM to affirm the organisation’s “ongoing willingness” to support the inquiry.

“They understand the importance of your inquiry and the significance of your report to the LGBTIQ community and the community at large,” he said.

“This inquiry represents a unique opportunity to examine … the alarming number of historic bias hate crimes.

“Every effort has been and will be made to comply.”

Police Commissioner Karen Webb has thrown her support behind the Inquiry. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Referencing events at the Special Commission last week, Mr Tedeschi said it was not anyone’s intention to cause offence or place any pressure on the inquiry.

On December 6, the Justice presiding over the inquiry, John Sackar, was forced to rebuke submissions made by NSW Police that the inquiry was straying beyond its terms of reference.

In a letter sent to the Special Commission the previous Friday, NSW Police argued the inquiry should not investigate the adequacy of its investigations or reviews into gay-hate killings.

The letter further said the police had been forced to suspend 12 investigations by the Unsolved Homicide Team to meet the “considerable resources” required to support the work of the inquiry.

Mark Tedeschi, AM, KC, is representing the NSW Police Force at the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes.

“To accuse this Commission of either wittingly or even unwittingly deliberately interrupting the proper police work in relation to unsolved homicides is frankly unacceptable,” Mr Sackar said.

“If it is intended to put pressure on this Commission, it’s not going to work.

“If it is intended to be offensive, it worked.”

The Inquiry later heard a police review of 88 suspected murders and disappearances between 1987 and 2000 found many lacked evidence to indicate gay-hate as a motivation.

The second hearing of the LGBTIQ hate crimes Inquiry is expected to conclude on Wednesday.

Originally published as Police apologise to NSW gay-hate Inquiry over ‘offensive’ submissions