A police operation at several LGBTQIA+ venues on Oxford Street in Sydney has sparked complaints that are now being considered by the state’s law enforcement watchdog. The case has raised fresh concerns about how police conduct plays out in queer spaces, especially during Pride Month.
THIS ARTICLE AT A GLANCE
- Law Enforcement Conduct Commission considering complaints about Police
- The complaints relate to a drug operation at LGBTQIA+ venues on Oxford Street
- Police attended Universal Sydney, Kinselas and Palms on June 13
- NSW Police said 93 people were searched and 42 drug detections were made
- MP Alex Greenwich and Lord Mayor Clover Moore have raised concerns.
- Complaints include allegations of intimidation, searches & aggressive language.
The NSW enforcement watchdog will consider complaints over NSW Police conduct during a drug operation at LGBTQIA+ venues in Sydney’s Oxford Street precinct, after allegations of aggression and intimidation emerged from the June 13 2026 raid.
According to ABC News, officers attended venues including Universal Sydney, Kinselas and Palms as part of what police described as an “intelligence, prevention, high-visibility policing operation” in the Surry Hills area.
NSW Police said 93 people were searched and 42 drug detections were made during the operation, which also led to some liquor offences being identified.
But the reaction from parts of the queer community and local leaders was swift. Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and Lord Mayor Clover Moore wrote to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission saying they had not seen so many complaints about police behaviour in more than a decade.
Their letter alleged patrons were pushed, shone in the face with bright lights, searched in public and subjected to hostile language. One person reported being so distressed they could not stop crying afterwards, according to the ABC report.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has confirmed it will review the complaint and supporting material before deciding on next steps.
NSW Police said the operation was aimed at disrupting drug trafficking and addressing anti-social behaviour, and Superintendent Peter Glynn said officers had since spoken with community members and industry stakeholders, including the Surry Hills Liquor Accord and Greenwich.
For many LGBTQIA+ Sydneysiders, the issue goes beyond one night on Oxford Street. The complaints have revived wider concerns about trust, safety and how police interact with queer venues that have long been part of the community’s social life.
