Daily London
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said police “understand and empathise” that it is a globally volatile time at the moment and will work beside people who wish to take to the streets to exercise their free speech.
“We are a very multicultural society,” he said.
“We’re not a political organisation, NSW Police.
“We facilitated about a thousand protests in the CBD in Sydney last year.
“Do the right thing, listen to us, work with us, you’ll be able to have your public assembly.
“No doubt you’ll get the media attention that you want.”
McKenna said NSW Police are not accepting Form 1 protests at this stage.
“Form 1s give people protection from the Summary Offences Act,” he said.
“It means that people can’t be prosecuted for impeding vehicles, blocking roadways, people on the footpaths, those sorts of things.”
“At the end of the day, it is all about public safety for us,” McKenna said.
“It’s also understanding we’ve just come off the back of the most horrific terrorist incident that Australia has ever seen.
“There may well be police with long arms just because of the current threat environment we are in.”
“I think the community is getting more and more used to seeing them,” he said.
