Why NSW Police will not pursue Seibold allegations
NSW Police spoke with a person who circulated rumours about the former Broncos coach but will not take further action.
NSW Police have closed the book on their investigation into the social media attacks on Anthony Seibold and the result has once again highlighted the flaws in the legislation that the former Brisbane coach is personally campaigning to change.
Police spoke to at least one person responsible for circulating heinous messages on social media that many believed were designed to destabilise Seibold’s position at the Broncos. However they were powerless to act under the law as it currently stands because there was no threat of violence to Seibold or members of his family.
Seibold was reluctant to comment on the decision on Wednesday, having been told of the outcome during a meeting with the officer in charge of the Engagement and Hate Crime Unit, Chief Inspector Tony Long.
Seibold was placed in contact with Long some weeks ago by the NRL integrity unit after raising concerns over a series of rumours on social media, which reached a crescendo during his finals days in charge of the Broncos.
The Broncos paid for a European cybercrime unit to track down those responsible and their findings – which discovered that persons of prominence had been party to disseminating the messages – were shared with both the NRL integrity unit and NSW Police.
As a result, officers from the Engagement and Hate Crime Unit commenced an investigation last month into the reports that offensive and distasteful material had been posted online in relation to a 46-year-old man.
“Following extensive inquiries, which included speaking with a person who circulated some of the messages, the investigation has concluded,” police said in a statement.
“No further police action will be taken.”
Chief Inspector Long added: “Despite the outcome, the NSW Police Force continues to encourage any person who believes they are a victim of cyber bullying – such as online threats and intimidation – to report it to police.
“Like any crime type, police rely on reporting to identify offenders and bring them to account. Otherwise, it becomes invisible but may have dreadful consequences.
“While there can be technical challenges in these types of investigations, no one is truly anonymous on the internet, and law enforcement have a variety of methods of tracking perpetrators down.”:
Seibold has been waging a campaign to have the legislation changed to ensure those responsible for the sort of slurs that were aimed at him are held to account.
Earlier this month, he appeared on 60 Minutes along with Nine Network personality Erin Molan to raise awareness over the challenges law enforcement face in taking action against cyber bullies and trolls.
Under the criminal code dealing with cyber-bullying or stalking behaviour, section 93Z can be used when a person threatens or incites violence against a person on grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV/AIDS status.
The Seibold attacks, while distasteful and disgusting, did not fall under that remit. Seibold could take civil action against those responsible but that would be an expensive affair and potentially take years to finalise though the courts.
It would also mean forcing his family to endure more pain. Seibold would prefer that the matter was put to bed, although he has offered to help police with counselling for other people who endure similar experiences.
The NRL integrity unit must now decide whether they take any action or speak to any of those responsible given they were waiting for the outcome of the police investigation.
Already, the NSW Rugby League has distanced itself from allegations that one of the parties responsible for sharing the messages was a member of their organisation.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden spoke to Seibold last week when 60 Minutes suggested one of the officials involved was one of his employees.
Trodden denied any full-time employee was involved and it later emerged that the person responsible was a match-day evaluator of refereess. It is understood investigators also identified a prominent player turned media commentator and an ex-NRL referee as persons of interest.
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