NSW Police has begun the process of consulting with LGBTQIA+ community stakeholders as it considers the findings and recommendations of the state’s gay hate crime inquiry that relate to how it operates.
The special commission of inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes investigated unsolved suspected hate crime deaths of LGBTIQ people (or people who were presumed to be LGBTIQ) in NSW between 1970 and 2010.
Following the release of the inquiry’s findings and recommendations in late December, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb established Task Force Atlas – led by Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell – “to review the recommendations and comments of the inquiry and take action to consider them and respond as appropriate”.
As part of that process, senior members of NSW Police and members of the state government met on Tuesday this week with LGBTQIA+ community stakeholders to consult on the recommendations and findings.
Held at the old Darlinghurst police station, which now houses queer museum Qtopia Sydney, those present included NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley, Webb, Thurtell and LGBTI+ representatives including Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, Sydney Mardi Gras chief executive Gil Beckwith, and LGBTI health organisation ACON CEO Nicholas Parkhill, among others.
Catley said that the police force was deeply committed to learning from the past and acknowledged the enduring pain and suffering experienced by the victims of LGBTI hate crimes.
“The LGBTQIA+ Consultative Committee will enable community voices and experiences to help shape the NSW Police Force’s response to the special commission of inquiry,” Catley said.
“I know that the NSW Police Force, under the leadership of Commissioner Karen Webb, is deeply committed to learning from the past and continuing to strengthen its relationship with the LGBTIQA+ community into the future. I know this work is and will continue to be taken seriously.”
One of the recommendations of the inquiry that police are consulting with the community on called for additional mandatory and ongoing training to be provided to police officers on topics including LGBTI+ bias crime, cultural awareness, trauma-informed communication and bias investigations.
Commissioner Webb said she supported the establishment of the committee to ensure that the police force addressed the relevant recommendations laid out by the inquiry.
“While some recommendations align closely with initiatives already under way, Task Force Atlas will thoroughly assess the recommendations as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the service and accountability of the NSW Police Force,” she said.
“We continue to be committed to improve the ways in which the organisation responds to LGBTIQ+ concerns and the involvement of community members in those discussions is vital.”
The consultation meetings will be held quarterly, with the next scheduled for October.
As previously reported by Gay Sydney News, no timeline has been given by police on the implementation of any of the report’s recommendations.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: eliot.hastie@gaysydneynews.com.au
