NSW Police Officer Boasts of Punching Protester in Leaked Body-Cam Footage

Leaked body-worn camera footage from a February protest outside Sydney Town Hall captures a New South Wales police officer boasting about punching a demonstrator in the head while down. The video has intensified scrutiny on law enforcement actions and fueled an ongoing Law Enforcement Conduct Commission investigation.

Leaked Footage Exposes Officer Statements After Town Hall Protest

A short fragment of police body-worn camera footage has circulated widely across social media platforms, capturing a male New South Wales police officer talking with his colleagues while walking down George Street in Sydney’s central business district. The officers were dispersing crowds following demonstrations prompted by Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia. Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia in the wake of the Bondi Beach shooting to support the Jewish community prompted the rallies in the streets of the city. Mr Herzog has been accused of inciting genocide by both Amnesty International and an independent UN Commission of Inquiry for claiming there were no uninvolved civilians in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. His arrival in Australia in February generated mass protests across the country, with Premier Chris Minns granting NSW Police special powers in an effort to deter protesters from marching through the Sydney CBD.

As the officers passed the Haymarket Hotel during the February 9 operations, the camera captured the male officer telling fellow personnel what transpired during a recent confrontation. The remarks quickly drew severe public condemnation after leaking online over the weekend. The snippet of footage has been liked more than 6,000 times on Instagram and reposted by more than 1,600 people, and it has been viewed online more than 240,000 times.

“I f*ing pumped that c*.”

Unnamed male police officer, New South Wales Police Force

When a female colleague responded by saying oh, it was you? So funny, the male officer added, yeah, yeah, and then I punched him in the head when he was down, prompting laughter from the nearby officer who remarked, oh I know, I saw that. The new footage was posted online by several pro-Palestinian accounts, including former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas, who sustained a serious eye injury after being struck by a police officer during a separate protest. It is unclear how the body-worn camera footage was obtained, however it was understood to have formed part of recent court proceedings involving a protester arrested at the rally.

Operation Makalu Examines Hundreds of Complaints Over Police Conduct

The newly emerged footage forms part of an expansive inquiry led by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, operating under the designation Operation Makalu. The watchdog has received more than 800 complaints regarding police conduct during the anti-Herzog protests, marking the greatest number of complaints on a single topic in the commission’s history. The footage is among several videos and images of police that night being poured over by the LECC.

NSW Police Officer Boasts of Punching Protester in Leaked Body-Cam Footage — Photo: Theaustralian

LECC Chief Commissioner Peter Johnson detailed the unprecedented volume of grievances during a parliamentary inquiry in May, stating that the watchdog had received more than 800 complaints about police conduct at the rally. Investigators are currently reviewing more than 1,000 hours of security camera footage alongside the newly surfaced body-worn camera recordings. Public hearings for Operation Makalu are anticipated in the coming months.

Protester accused of assaulting police officer appears in court

New South Wales Greens MP Sue Higginson condemned the newly public video material after viewing it firsthand, describing the conduct as representative of deeper operational attitudes during the Sydney Town Hall demonstrations. Higginson referred the body-cam recording directly to the LECC as evidence of misconduct.

“This footage shows the attitude of the police that night and should result in an immediate suspension and investigation of the officers involved.”

Sue Higginson, New South Wales Greens MP

Higginson stated that she was there that night, interacted with police, and witnessed things she wished she had never had to witness. She stated that the behaviour on display in that video did not happen in isolation, adding that it represented the level of impunity and hatred that many officers brought to that operation that night at Town Hall.

Political Fallout and Government Response to Town Hall Demonstrations

The protests erupted across Sydney following the arrival of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Premier Chris Minns previously resisted demands for an independent inquiry into the policing of the demonstrations.

Screenshot from a police bodycam showing an officer — Photo: ABC

“I’m not going condemn the police for doing what we asked them to do, to keep the public safe. I’m not going to throw police under the bus.”

Chris Minns, New South Wales Premier

A New South Wales government spokesperson maintained that the independent watchdog must be permitted to complete its examination without interference. The LECC is examining the events of that evening, as is entirely appropriate, the spokesperson said, emphasizing that it is independent of government and must be allowed to do its work, and that the government has confidence in that process and will let it run its course.

Meanwhile, the New South Wales Police Force acknowledged awareness of the leaked video recording but declined to offer detailed commentary due to the ongoing Law Enforcement Conduct Commission investigation.