New South Wales Police Officer Accused of Assaulting Hannah Thomas

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A police officer is set to appear in court after accusations of striking former federal Greens candidate Hannah Thomas during a protest in Sydney earlier this year.

Thomas sustained a significant eye injury requiring surgery when she was apprehended at a protest on 27 June outside a Sydney company reportedly associated with the production of parts for US fighter jets utilized by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Initially charged with resisting arrest — a case now dropped by the prosecution — Thomas’s legal team has indicated plans to launch a civil lawsuit in the Supreme Court for “malicious prosecution” and for assault and battery at the hands of the police.

On Tuesday, the arresting officer was charged by police with assault causing actual bodily harm.

The 33-year-old senior constable is slated to appear before the Bankstown Local Court on 18 November.

A woman wearing a white top and sunglasses, speaking into a microphone she's holding in one hand. She's holding a mobile phone in her other hand.

Hannah Thomas’ legal representatives have signaled they intend to pursue a “malicious prosecution” case in the Supreme Court after the 35-year-old’s prior charge of resisting arrest was dropped. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts

“As police attempted to move on some of the protesters, a 35-year-old woman sustained facial injuries and was hospitalised for treatment,” a police statement read.

“The officer is being managed in the workplace and his employment status is under review.”

Senior police initially defended the officer’s actions and resisted calls to launch a critical incident investigation, which triggers oversight measures, including detectives from a different police command.

“I am comfortable based on the information provided to me that I did not declare the matter a critical incident,” assistant commissioner Brett McFadden said three days after Thomas’ arrest on 30 June.

McFadden made these remarks shortly before the alleged assault investigation into Thomas was handed over to the police’s professional standards command.

Police ordered to pay protesters’ costs after dropped cases

Five people were arrested outside SEC Plating in Belmore, which has denied alleged links to the IDF.

Criminal cases against four protesters — including an offensive language charge against a 41-year-old — have now been dropped.

On Friday, a magistrate ordered police to pay costs amounting to $39,435 to the four, including $21,000 to Thomas. The arrests are subject to an internal NSW Police review, with external oversight by the police watchdog.

Thomas was charged with hindering or resisting police and two counts of refusing to comply with a move-on direction before the allegations were formally withdrawn earlier in September.

After the charges were dropped, her lawyer, Peter O’Brien, said the arresting officer in question would be charged, and others involved should “certainly be disciplined”.

He confirmed legal representatives would seek costs for the prosecution and compensation for Thomas.

She came second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his inner western Sydney seat of Grayndler at the federal election in May.