NSW Police independent culture review reveals systemic bullying, harassment, discrimination
Consensus Summary
An independent review of NSW Police’s culture, led by former Victorian human rights commissioner Kristen Hilton, revealed systemic bullying, harassment, and discrimination within the force. Over 5,100 participants reported alarming rates of bullying (30%), verbal abuse (18%), sexual harassment (9%), and sexual assault (1%), with women, First Nations staff, LGBTQI+ employees, and people with disabilities disproportionately affected. The review, commissioned after an ABC investigation uncovered toxic workplace conditions, found a culture of silence and retaliation, where employees feared career consequences for speaking up. Commissioner Mal Lanyon accepted all 29 recommendations, vowing to implement changes, while Police Minister Yasmin Catley pledged government support and transparency through audits. Former officers, including whistleblowers like Mel Cooper, expressed cautious optimism but warned that meaningful change would require sustained commitment from leadership. The report also highlighted deep-seated issues like racial profiling and a lack of diversity in leadership, with only one female commissioner in over 100 years of the force’s history.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The NSW Police independent culture review found 30% of over 5,100 participants reported being bullied in the past five years
- 18% of respondents said they had been verbally abused or threatened in the past five years
- 9% of respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment at NSW Police in the past five years, while 1% reported being sexually assaulted
- A quarter of those surveyed reported experiencing discrimination in the past five years, with women, First Nations staff, LGBTQI+ employees, and people with disabilities most commonly targeted
- The review was led by former Victorian human rights commissioner Kristen Hilton and made 29 recommendations for cultural change
- Commissioner Mal Lanyon accepted all 29 recommendations and vowed to overhaul the culture, calling it 'unacceptable'
- The review was launched in response to an ABC News investigation that uncovered widespread allegations of bullying, harassment, and discrimination
- Police Minister Yasmin Catley stated the government is taking the review 'very seriously' and will audit implementation
- The review found a culture of silence and retaliation for those who reported harmful behavior, with employees fearing career consequences
- The report highlighted a 'boys' club' culture where sexual harassment and discrimination were normalized
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Former senior sergeant Mel Cooper was handcuffed and photographed by male officers in 1994, which became a focal point of the ABC investigation.
- An anonymous former gay officer said he experienced toxic and discriminatory culture firsthand for 20 years and now works in a different NSW government department where he claims there is no discrimination.
- Former officer Steve Bartholomew (Gomeroi man) said the report 'watered down' his experiences of racial profiling and did not address how police interact with Aboriginal communities.
- The review found that probationary officers were targeted for sexual harassment by field training officers.
- Commissioner Lanyon mentioned a Four Corners report revealing disturbing cases of NSW Police brutality since 2020.
- The report included a confidential interview where an employee said reporting harassment would be 'career-ending'.
- The review recommended establishing an in-house critical incident support unit with qualified psychologists.
- Every female employee who participated in the review had experienced or observed 'overt or covert harassment, undermining, and belittlement'.
- Kristen Hilton noted that there has been only one female commissioner and two female deputy commissioners in the force's over 100-year history, with no women currently on the commissioner’s executive team.
- The review found distrust and disconnect between management and staff, with many frontline officers describing outdated or inflexible systems.
- The report highlighted an 'insular mindset' in parts of the organization, stifling good ideas and local initiatives.
- The review noted that police are now first responders to a wide spectrum of social, health, and environmental crises, increasing pressure on officers.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states that 30% of over 5,100 participants reported bullying, while the Guardian does not provide a specific percentage but emphasizes systemic bullying.
- ABC mentions a Four Corners report on police brutality since 2020, but the Guardian does not reference this specific report.
- ABC highlights that 9% reported sexual harassment and 1% reported sexual assault, while the Guardian focuses on broader experiences of harassment without specific percentages.
Source Articles
Culture in Australia's largest police force 'unacceptable'
Bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment are occurring at "unacceptable levels" within the NSW Police Force and employees are too afraid to speak up, an independent report has found.
Culture of silence: Whistleblowers react to NSW Police review
Former NSW Police officers who blew the whistle on the toxic culture of the force have welcomed an independent report "validating" their experiences.
‘Punished’ for speaking up: culture of bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination in NSW police
Report says incivility and victimisation ‘at unacceptable levels’ within force and current culture presents ‘systemic risk’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Every female employee of the NSW police force who participated in a wide-ranging review into its culture had experienced or observed “overt or covert harassment, undermining and belittlement”, a scathing report has found. Undertaken by former Victorian equal o