UPDATE: Charges against activist Hannah Thomas have been dropped following her alleged assault by police during a protest outside a southwestern Sydney business on June 27, 2023. This urgent development comes as Thomas prepares to seek compensation for what her legal team describes as “malicious prosecution.”
The 35-year-old former Greens candidate was initially charged with hindering police and refusing to comply with a move-on order after she participated in a protest against SEC Plating, a firm reportedly linked to the production of components for US fighter jets used by the Israeli Defence Forces. All charges against her were dismissed at Bankstown Local Court on September 12, allowing Thomas to reclaim her voice after enduring serious injuries from the incident.
Emerging from court wearing sunglasses to shield her injured right eye, Thomas expressed her relief but called the situation far from resolved. “The charges against me… should never have been brought, so it’s a relief that they’ve finally been dropped,” she told awaiting reporters. However, she denounced the absence of accountability for the police officer who allegedly punched her, stating, “If he was willing to punch me in the face in front of so many witnesses… I shudder to think what he is doing when no one’s watching.”
Her lawyer, Peter O’Brien, announced plans to file civil proceedings in the Supreme Court for assault and battery against the police. He emphasized the need for accountability, noting that Thomas’s eye injury, which required surgery, continues to pose serious health risks. “The eye is still affected and the outcome of that is still unknown,” he added.
The protest, part of a larger demonstration against arms manufacturing and its implications, saw Thomas and four others arrested. While charges against Thomas were dropped, the cases against the other individuals, including Zachary Schofield, Shane Reside, Brandon Eid, and Holly Zhang, remain active. Thomas criticized the police for maintaining charges against her fellow protesters while absolving her, stating, “It’s absurd for the police to be maintaining charges against Zach Schofield and dropping them against me when the circumstances of our arrest are so similar.”
In a related development, the NSW Police reported that charges against a 26-year-old protester were also withdrawn on the same day, though Schofield’s status remains active with a court mention scheduled for September 19. An internal review by the NSW Police is underway, with external oversight from the police watchdog.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden had previously stated he did not observe any misconduct in the body-worn camera footage from the incident, raising questions about transparency and accountability within the police force.
The withdrawal of Thomas’s charges has sparked discussions about police conduct, with Sue Higginson, the NSW Greens justice spokeswoman, asserting that it indicates a lack of justification for the police response. “The withdrawal of these charges… is a clear admission that Hannah should never have been targeted in the first place,” she remarked.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding police interactions with protesters in Australia and the broader implications for civil rights. As Thomas seeks justice and compensation, the spotlight remains on police accountability in NSW.
With these developments, many are left asking: What will happen next for those still facing charges, and how will the police handle this internal review? As this story unfolds, further updates are expected.
