NSW Police Officer Charged with Assault Over Brutal Arrest of Former Greens Candidate Hannah Thomas – as Footage Reveals the Shocking Moment She Was Punched by a Male Officer
- A NSW Police officer has been charged with assault over the arrest of former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas during an anti-Israel protest in south-west Sydney.
- Ms Thomas, 35, alleges she was punched by a male officer, causing a serious injury to her eye, as police tried to arrest her for failing to comply with a move on direction.
- The officer, a 33-year-old senior constable, is due to face Bankstown Local Court on November 18 and his employment status is under review.
- Greens MLC Sue Higginson welcomed the charging of the police officer but called for further action to be taken against NSW Police.
A NSW Police officer has been charged with assault over the brutal arrest of former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas during an anti-Israel protest in south-west Sydney. The shocking incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for further action against the police force.
Ms Thomas, 35, alleges she was punched by a male officer, causing a serious injury to her eye, as police tried to arrest her for failing to comply with a move on direction. The incident occurred during a protest outside a manufacturing facility in June, where demonstrators were alleging the company supplies components used in the manufacture of F-35 jets – the class of jets flown by the Israel Defense Forces.
The officer, a 33-year-old senior constable attached to a specialist command, was issued a court attendance for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His employment status is under review, and he is due to face Bankstown Local Court on November 18.
In a statement, NSW Police said the officer involved was being “managed in the workplace and his employment status is under review”. However, Greens MLC Sue Higginson welcomed the charging of the police officer but called for further action to be taken against NSW Police.
“It’s a just and welcomed step to see charges finally laid,” Ms Higginson said. “However, we need to see more action taken against the police force to address the systemic issues that led to this incident.”
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said in a statement “police are investigating this incident like they said they would”. “As a result, an officer has been charged and his employment status is under review,” Ms Catley said. “He is now before the courts and I won’t risk prejudicing this matter by commenting further.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for greater accountability within the police force. The ABC has reached out to Ms Thomas’s legal team for a response.