Karen Webb, NSW Police Commissioner, to step down

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb is set to resign after three years as the state’s top cop.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley will confirm the news in the state parliament on Wednesday. Webb is expected to resign within weeks. Earlier this year, she refuted claims she would be taking an early retirement.

Webb, who was appointed the state’s first female commissioner in February 2022, beat contenders Mick Willing and Mal Lanyon following a battle for the role.

As commissioner, she has overseen responses to the Bondi massacre, the alleged murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird by off-duty officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, and the Dural caravan terror plot now suspected to be a “con job” fabricated by organised criminals.

Her focus as commissioner has been on children as both victims and perpetrators of crime, domestic violence and sexual assault, helping launch a new online sexual assault reporting system that allows victims to report incidents anonymously.

Police culture has also been a priority, with Webb announcing in November an independent review targeting serial sexual offenders within the force. The review, headed by former Victorian equal opportunity and human rights commissioner Kristen Hilton, will also examine gender issues, bullying, and mental health. Its findings, recommendations, and executive summary will be made public, with the first reports due at the end of the year.

Webb’s landmark career achievement was scoring a historic pay rise for officers. The force was awarded a 19 per cent base pay increase over four years, helping recruit and retain officers. The reforms also allowed officers to job share, work part-time and have flexible work arrangements.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman thanked Webb for her service in a statement.

“I thank Commissioner Webb for her long and loyal service in her various roles in the NSW Police Force. The Minns Labor government must now move quickly to confirm who will lead the force. Our police do an extraordinary job and deserve strong, steady leadership,” he said.