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Karen Webb to resign after three years as NSW police commissioner Karen Webb to resign after three years as NSW police commissioner
(about 1 hour later)
State’s top cop – who was first woman to hold position in NSW history – expected to step down on 30 SeptemberState’s top cop – who was first woman to hold position in NSW history – expected to step down on 30 September
New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb will resign after three years in the role. New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb will resign after three years in the role and 38 years in the police force.
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, told NSW parliament on Wednesday that Webb had recently indicated she would retire by the end of the year and will leave the job on 30 September. The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, told NSW parliament on Wednesday that Webb had recently indicated that she would retire by the end of the year and will leave the job on 30 September.
In statement released shortly after Catley’s announcement, Webb said: “I knew when the time was right I would know, and I wanted to give the State Government time to recruit and appoint a new Commissioner going into an election period in less than two years’ time.”
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“She has provided a lengthy notice period to enable the government to conduct a thorough recruitment process for her successor,” Catley said Speaking in question time, Catley praised Webb for “an extremely distinguished career marked by exemplary service”.
“Commissioner Webb has had an extremely extinguished career marked by exemplary service. I have nothing but heartfelt thanks for her incredible work and admiration for her many significant achievements. “I have nothing but heartfelt thanks for her incredible work and admiration for her many significant achievements,” Catley said.
“She has been a force for change and reform, focused on the safety and the wellbeing of the New South Wales police – she will leave a significant legacy.”“She has been a force for change and reform, focused on the safety and the wellbeing of the New South Wales police – she will leave a significant legacy.”
Webb, the first woman to hold the position, is the 23rd commissioner of the NSW Police Force. She was sworn in at a ceremony in her hometown of Boorowa in February 2022. Webb, the first woman to hold the position, is the 23rd commissioner of the NSW Police Force. She was sworn in at a ceremony in her hometown of Boorowa in February 2022, .
She was widely criticised over her handling of the alleged murders of Luke Davis and Jesse Baird, allegedly at the hands of police officer Beau Lamarre. Catley praised Webb’s work advocating for student police officers and police officers’ pay, her establishment of the domestic and family violence register and her expansion of the family liaison officers program.
Webb and Catley were instrumental in a pay deal that saw NSW police become the best paid in the nation thanks to a “general” wage increase of up to 40%.
Catley said Webb had faced regional crime “head-on” and established Strike Force Pearl and Operation Shelter to “tackle antisemitic and hate crimes right across this state”.
“When others would be happy to stick with the status quo, Karen Webb has strived for more. She is a true trailblazer,” Catley told the state’s lower house.
“The former premier, Dominic Perrottet, and I didn’t agree on some things, but … the best decision he ever made was to announce that Karen Webb was the police commissioner of New South Wales.”
In a statement, NSW premier Chris Minns congratulated Webb “on what is an historic career”.
“Commissioner Webb has stood tall in moments of crisis, led significant reform to policing, and staunchly defended law and order in this state”, he said.
Minns said Webb would “leave behind a legacy of substance”, including in leading the response to the Bondi Junction stabbings, and in implementing new “wanding” laws aimed at removing knives from streets.
Webb was widely criticised over her handling of the alleged murders of Luke Davis and Jesse Baird, allegedly at the hands of police officer Beau Lamarre.
In 2023, she denied allegations of a “cover-up” over the Tasering of 95-year-old Clare Nowland.In 2023, she denied allegations of a “cover-up” over the Tasering of 95-year-old Clare Nowland.
More details soon … Webb was also scrutinised over $687,000 paid out to three media advisors in two years.
According to the Wednesday statement, Webb had planned to announce her retirement on 18 May, the date on which she joined Goulburn Police Academy 38 years ago.
“I have recommended to the government that Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell act in my role,” she said.
On Tuesday, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, and state’s police minister, Anthony Carbines, announced that the former head of the New Zealand police force, Mike Bush, had been appointed Victoria’s next chief commissioner.
Bush was awarded a five-year contract to run the state’s police force, beginning 27 June and pledged to prioritise crime prevention and increase police visibility across the state.