Watchdog opens inquiry into Herzog protest

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission began investigating a February 2026 Sydney rally against Israeli president Isaac Herzog's visit, examining police use of OC spray and allegations of brutality.

Early findings show largely peaceful protest

Counsel assisting the commission, Kirsten Edwards SC, said evidence shows limited physical violence by protesters and the protest was largely peaceful in its early stages.

“there is limited evidence of physical violence on the part of the protesters. The protest appears to have been largely peaceful in its early stages.”

Later conduct was mostly verbal

Edwards said later protester conduct described by police as aggressive was mostly verbal and connected to a desire to march. Protest organisers appeared to attempt defusing conflict with police.

Charges dropped against multiple protesters

Police charged thirty people after the protest with offences including hinder arrest and assault police. Almost a dozen had charges withdrawn, with seven more withdrawn on Friday before Downing Centre local court.

Inquiry examining multiple police conduct concerns

The commission reviewed four hundred complaints and one thousand hours of footage. Edwards said it is examining OC spray use, pushing and shoving, use of force during arrests, and police boasting about gratuitous force.

Kettling and prayer incident under scrutiny

The inquiry is examining allegations that protesters were contained in an area from which they could not leave, known as kettling.

Pre-protest briefing had no formal record

A briefing was held with officers before the protest where senior officers including NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon spoke.

Joint hearing set for remaining defendants

In June, the local court set a joint hearing date for twenty five of approximately thirty initially charged people, expected to last six weeks in July twenty twenty-seven.