NSW police deputy commissioner says letting Jewish security group carry guns could be seen as ‘favouritism’

David Hudson told the royal commission that even in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, ‘protection of all members of the community is the responsibility of the police’, not individuals or groups. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP View image in fullscreen David Hudson told the royal commission that even in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, ‘protection of all members of the community is the responsibility of the police’, not individuals or groups. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP NSW police deputy commissioner says letting Jewish security group carry guns could be seen as ‘favouritism’ The royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion is this week examining security arrangements for the Jewish community Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The deputy commissioner of New South Wales Police has pushed back at calls for the private security sector to be armed at Jewish events. The royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has been examining security arrangements for the Jewish community in this block of hearings, with some witnesses lobbying for the Community Security Group (CSG) to be armed in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. CSG, led by security professionals and supported by trained volunteers, monitors threats to the community and provides security for Jewish events. Its security guards can carry weapons at schools and synagogues and attended the Hanukah celebration in December, but were unarmed. In the days after the Bondi beach terror attack, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, said his government was “actively” considering expanding access to guns for CSG. Appearing before the royal commission on Monday, David Hudson said the “protection of all members of the community is the responsibility of the police”, not other individuals or groups. He said it was his “strong preference” that a “user pays” model be adopted rather than arming private security guards, which would allow organisers or venues to pay for police presence as occurred at Westfield in the aftermath of a 2024 knife attack . Hudson said the police force was generally opposed to individual communities, including the Jewish community, being able to carry arms or use body armour. “It’s our opinion that allowing certain areas of society, no matter what those areas are, to have special privileges in relation to their security, would further fracture … relationships that are fairly tenuous between different groups,” Hudson said. “It would certainly be looked upon by others as the police or governments … showing favouritism to that group.” Risk consultant Gavriel Schneider told the commissioner on Monday that the private security sector should be armed at open air events as a “valuable alternative or support” to existing police resources, a view that was backed by the Australian Jewish Association. Its president, Robert Gregory, said the Jewish community wouldn’t feel safe to attend open air events “unless there is armed protection” and called for a governm