Policy & Civic Health · Indicator 5
Relationship with law enforcement
What this indicator asks
What is the relationship between Sydney’s nightlife scene and the police? Are some communities treated differently, and how has this changed?
not scored
A total of 43% of survey respondents in Sydney say the police would be helpful if something went wrong.
Participants described police raids on queer venues on Oxford Street in 2026, including about 15 officers with drug dogs at Arq. An expert said First Nations people are the most over-policed, along with Western Sydney, Middle Eastern and Pasifika communities.
Promoters of big events must pay NSW Police for a set number of officers per attendee. An expert said it is one of the biggest costs shouldered by promoters, and has made some events untenable.
A participant proposed educating the police and reducing the raids. A participant proposed educating the police and reducing the raids. An expert claimed:
“Sydney is really quite behind in kind of catching up to other global cities in finding ways for government to get out of the way and police to get out of the way of those unconventional spaces being used responsibly and safely by these largely self-policing cultures, including rave, queer, DIY.”