Karen Webb named NSW’s first female police commissioner

Premier Dominic Perrottet has lauded the incoming commissioner, who has more than 30 years experience in the police force.

The next NSW commissioner, Karen Webb, on Wednesday. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

NSW’s first female police commissioner has vowed to prioritise victims of crime, including those affected by sexual assault and domestic violence, while also committing to restore trust with communities impacted by hardline policing strategies during Covid-19.

Deputy Commissioner Karen Webb was on Wednesday ­announced as the state’s 24th commissioner in a historic first that will see her take command of 22,000 serving officers and support staff. She will replace Mick Fuller, who is to retire next month.

Ms Webb ran a broad range of specialist commands ­between 2018 and 2020 as an ­assistant commissioner before being ­appointed to run the state’s traffic and highway patrol command. One year later she was elevated to the deputy commissioner rank and placed in charge of the corporate services portfolio.

The appointment was one of the most significant ones by Premier Dominic Perrottet. He has committed to increasing the number of women in cabinet and elsewhere in government. He emphasised that Ms Webb’s ­appointment was based on her talent and leadership ability.

Ms Webb said her depth of ­experience and diversity of roles across a 34-year career formed the basis of her pitch to a government selection panel. She was awarded the role over two rival candidates, Deputy Commissioner Mal ­Lanyon and Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing, as well as several external applicants.

Police forces across Australia are led by male commissioners, with the exception of Queensland, where Katarina Carroll has run the service since July 2019.

“I’m really looking forward to leading the organisation over the next five years. I’m ready for it,” Ms Webb said. She outlined her immediate but broad-ranging priorities as reconnecting with communities, working closer with victims of crime, and maintaining a stance of zero tolerance towards offenders.

The NSW government will soon announce its response to a special commission of inquiry into the drug ice, with deliberations continuing over how to manage low-level offenders through the justice system. Lifting female participation rates within the NSW Police Force remains another area of interest, although Ms Webb conceded the amount of recruiting required to reflect community representation would be difficult to achieve during her five-year tenure. “We’re a big organisation and I couldn’t possibly recruit that number to make it representative – but I think there is some work to be done. I do like a challenge,” she said, confirming that there were currently no women serving in the NSW tactical operations unit.

Ms Webb was praised across the political divide and within the traditionally fractious police ­organisation for her consultative approach and ability to build ­relationships.

“Commissioner-elect Webb is a highly experienced police officer, with 34 years of serving the community behind her. She has a strong record in operational leadership roles, and has made both an outstanding region and specialist commander,” Mr Fuller said.

Serving officers who spoke to The Australian said Mr Fuller had reduced crime rates but the pandemic had resulted in some increased reporting of abuse in home settings, namely among women and children.

It had also affected the force in other ways, causing a deterioration of relationships with some communities. The enforcement of unpopular public health orders, particularly in hotspot areas, contributed to a change in sentiment, one official said.

Ms Webb said it was those challenges, and others, that she would seek to address as part of her vision as commissioner-elect, although she was unable to immediately identify what steps she would take to achieve results.

Internal matters of policing culture and workplace bullying were other areas of interest, she said.