NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb to stand down after tenure of tumult and triumph

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb will stand down in September following a three-year tenure marred by controversies, but also achievements in tackling domestic violence and the force’s response to anti-Semitic attacks.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb will stand down early as the state’s top cop in September following weeks of rumours and a three-year tenure marred by controversies.

It comes as the once-rival Ms Webb sacked after she emerged victorious in late-2021 for the top job said he was “considering” whether to put his hat in the ring to replace her as the succession race began.

The state police’s first female commissioner, Ms Webb emerged standing but scarred after criticism of the force’s handling of the high-profile taser-induced death of Cooma grandmother Clare Nowland, and the alleged double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davis, at the alleged hands of a serving officer.

But the outgoing commissioner – who is exiting the five-year term early – drew praise for the force’s handling of the April 2024 Bondi stabbing spree followed days later by a terror attack at a southwest Sydney Assyrian church, and NSW Police’s response to a spate of recent anti-Semitic attacks, which resulted in a wave of high-profile arrests.

She has also been praised for her achievements in tackling regional crime and domestic violence.

It has fired the starting gun on the race to replace her, with deputies Mal Lanyon and Dave Hudson two of the obvious frontrunners, as well as a handful of the force’s assistant commissioners.

Calls have also been made on Wednesday to former NSW Police deputy Commissioner Mick Willing – unceremoniously dumped by Ms Webb after 31 years with the force after she beat him to the position – encouraging him to run for the role.

The Australian can reveal Mr Willing — who was former Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s “preferred candidate” for commissioner – was approached and later applied for Victoria’s police chief, which ultimately went to former New Zealand top cop Mike Bush.

People close to Mr Willing said calls from across sectors had been made to the police veteran on Wednesday with one line of argument that someone with experience external to the force would be advantageous, not dissimilar to the 2022 appointment of London’s top cop, Sir Mark Rowley.

When contacted late on Wednesday, Mr Willing told The Australian: “I was approached to (apply) for Victoria Police and I was happy to do so. I’m considering whether or not to do so for NSW (Police) and I haven’t made my mind up”.

On Wednesday, state Police Minister Yasmin Catley confirmed in parliament that Ms Webb would stand down from the role on September 30 following weeks of rumours.

Ms Catley revealed that Ms Webb wrote to her “earlier in the year” indicating her intention to quit before the end of 2025.

“To give effect to her retirement plan, she will resign as commissioner on the 30th of September,” Ms Catley said.

“She has provided a lengthy notice period to enable the government to conduct a thorough recruitment process for her successor.

“Commissioner Webb has had an extremely distinguished career, marked by exemplary service. I have nothing but heartfelt thanks for her incredible work and admiration for her many significant achievements.”

Ms Catley said Ms Webb had been a “force for change and reform”, spruiking her “career of self-sacrifice” and the commissioner’s achievements in securing a “historic” police pay rise, establishing a domestic and family violence registry, tackled rising anti-Semitism, and a landmark apology for the police’s handling of gay hate crimes, among others.

Ms Webb said that she had planned to announce her retirement on May 18, to commemorate the date she walked into the Goulburn Police Academy 38 years ago, and deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell would act in her role.

“I knew when the time was right I would know, and I wanted to give the state government time to recruit and appoint a new commissioner going into an election period in less than two years’ time,” Ms Webb said.

Mr Thurtell will not immediately assume that acting role, the specific date is unclear, but will do so before September 30 and is intended to ensure a smooth transition between Ms Webb’s exit and her successor’s swearing in. Questions remain about how the “dual” commissioner framework could work and there are suggestions Ms Webb could take leave or another role in the interim before her exit.

Ms Webb has said she was in discussions with the government about work in “critical areas” around women’s safety and domestic violence, and could move into a role within that before her September retirement.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said Ms Webb “stood tall in moments of crisis” and left a “legacy of substance”, praising the outgoing commissioner for her response to 2024’s Bondi stabbing, and the establishment of the force’s Strike Force Pearl, the police unit tackling racial hate crimes.

The Jewish community have particularly praised this latter aspect – the police’s response to the spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney’s recent summer – saying it was vital to the safety of Australian Jews.

“We recognise the commissioner’s work ensuring that the Jewish community was supported through the spate of anti-Semitic attacks and campaign of harassment that followed the October 7 attacks,” NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said.

“In helping establish Operation Shelter and Strike Force Pearl, the commissioner ensured that the Jewish community could worship and live in safety during a period of tumult.”

Ms Webb, left, and state Police Minister Yasmin Catley. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Lanyon, who is currently leading the NSW Reconstruction Authority, and Mr Hudson are understood to be two of the frontrunners to replace the departing commissioner.

Mr Lanyon was one of the final three candidates for the job in late 2021 before it was given to Ms Webb, but which was hampered by a drunken incident earlier that year in Goulburn.

He has been praised for his work at the reconstruction authority and has worked closely with the now-secretary of the Premier’s Department, Simon Draper.

Assistant commissioners Peter McKenna, Gavin Wood and Scott Cook could also be considered.

NSW independent MP Rod Roberts – a 20-year detective sergeant before entering politics – said Ms Webb should be replaced as the state’s top cop immediately to give the force “clear air”.

“The commissioner needs to step away immediately and create a clean break … there are five deputy commissioners who could fill the position until a replacement is appointed,” he said, calling her tenure a “disaster”.

“Crime is on the up, recruitment is down … She needs to vacate the role immediately and give (the force) clean air, she can’t be left hanging around like a ghost.”

Appointed by then-premier Dominic Perrottet, Ms Webb’s three years as the state’s top cop have been turbulent, weathering public criticism surrounding the police’s handling of high-profile incidents.

Both her response to the death of 95-year-old Ms Nowland after being tasered by police officer Kristian White, and her handling of the alleged double murder of Mr Baird and Mr Davis have fallen under intense public scrutiny.

Last year, Ms Webb was accused of using taxpayers' money to buy more than 100 bottles of gin amid allegations that some had been “used” by herself and her staff, a claim the commissioner denies.

There was also furore surrounding Ms Webb’s pick for a new media spinner in mid-2024, but the commissioner has been praised for her handling of the terror attack at a Wakeley church and the sweep of arrests of alleged anti-Semitic offenders earlier this year.

She also oversaw the subsequent investigation into those attacks and a hoax bomb caravan plot, which was now alleged to be a “criminal con job”, spearheaded by Australian fugitive Sayet Acka.

Ms Webb – whose much-maligned media performances have improved since quoting Taylor Swift after the alleged murders of Mr Davies and Mr Baird – has also made women’s safety and domestic violence a focus of her work.