‘Questions of excessive force’: Major escalation in Hannah Thomas arrest probe

Senior NSW police have escalated their investigation into the arrest of former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas after a briefing raised “questions of excessive force” by officers involved in breaking up an anti-Israel protest in Sydney’s south-west.

Internal affairs police have taken over the probe into Thomas’ arrest and are now looking into whether she was assaulted, lawyers and police sources with knowledge of the investigation have told the Herald.

Hannah Thomas, a former Greens candidate, suffered a serious injury to her eye after police broke up a protest in Sydney’s south-west.Credit: Nine News

It comes after this masthead revealed body-worn footage from the arrest showed Thomas suffered a serious eye injury when an officer punched her in the face during her arrest.

Thomas was injured after police broke up the protest outside SEC Plating on June 27, a business in Belmore demonstrators say supplies plating services for F-35 jets used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

She was told to “prepare for the worst” including the possibility she will never see out of her right eye again.

NSW Police on June 30 declared a critical incident, which tasked Campbelltown police command to investigate the actions of the officers who arrested Thomas.

Thomas was charged with resisting arrest and refusing an order to disperse on the same day.

The NSW Police executive called for an interim briefing on Tuesday and concluded the evidence raised “questions of excessive force”.

The executive escalated the investigation to the professional standards command following the briefing, sources who asked to remain anonymous so they could speak freely have told the Herald.

“NSW Police has announced the investigation into alleged excessive use of force and assault of Hannah Thomas has been put under the command of NSW Police Professional Standards,” a statement from police reads.

“The investigation will be incorporated into the critical incident investigation which is being oversighted by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.”

The revelation comes after Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden initially said there was no suggestion police had acted inappropriately. On June 30, McFadden told the ABC police were not investigating the potential for excessive use of force by officers.

McFadden said he had conducted a “preliminary review” of the body-worn video footage along with other senior officers.

There was “no information at this stage before me that indicates any misconduct on behalf of any of my officers”, he said at the time.

Thomas and the four other protesters arrested at the demonstration faced court for the first time this week. She has been charged with resisting police and defying a move-on order. Her case, which has been taken over by the Department of Public Prosecutions, was deferred until September.

Outside court her lawyer, Stewart O’Connell, criticised police for declining “an opportunity to show some accountability” and said they should consider charging an officer who allegedly punched Thomas during her arrest.

“The longer these charges persist, or every minute that these charges persist, is another minute of injustice,” he said.

“Not only should these charges be withdrawn, but serious consideration needs to be given to charging someone for the brutal, cowardly and despicable assault on Hannah Thomas.”

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