Derek Jones, a finance professional, plans to sue the New South Wales Police after suffering injuries during the Town Hall protest in Sydney back in February. Jones, who attended the protest with his wife to oppose Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit, ended up with broken ribs due to violent clashes that erupted.
At the protest, Jones, who expressed intentions to demonstrate peacefully, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. However, he recounted a disturbing encounter where multiple police officers physically assaulted him. “One officer tried to punch me in the face and chest, while another struck my ribs,” he detailed. His wife was present during the confrontation, and he admitted that seeing footage of the incident has been distressing for him.
In the aftermath, Jones was initially unaware of the extent to which the incident had gone viral, discovering videos of his assault on social media while recovering at home. Unlike several others present at the protest, he was not charged, which led him to seek both compensation for his injuries and clarity on what transpired.
Jones’s attorney, Mark Davis, explained that the case is a judicial review that aims to question government actions and decisions regarding the protest. While inquiring about the police conduct during the event, Davis emphasised that their approach is not primarily financially motivated but is focused on seeking information.
The police actions from that night are currently under review by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), but Davis is advocating for a criminal investigation into the officers involved in Jones’s alleged assault. The NSW Police have refrained from commenting due to the ongoing inquiry.