NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has pushed back against the Police Association of NSW's directive for officers to stop pursuing dangerous e-bike and motorbike riders, reminding them of their oath of office as the government faces pressure to deliver promised safety reforms.
Lanyon and Police Minister Yasmin Catley voiced their disagreement with the powerful union on Wednesday, with the commissioner saying police work for their commissioner and will continue to do that.
"The NSW Police Force obviously work for their commissioner. The police have an oath of office, and they'll continue to do that," Lanyon said.
The Police Association directed officers to no longer pursue dangerous riders on e-bikes and motorbikes after two officers were charged after allegedly hitting a woman in a marked police car and knocking her from her bike. It is alleged the officers left the scene without rendering aid.
Association president Kevin Morton argued police were not afforded enough protections to pursue e-bikes without fearing criminal prosecution.
"There comes a point where enough is enough. That point has now been reached," he said.
The NSW government is seizing and crushing overpowered e-bikes. Transport Minister John Graham commissioned an expert report into potential age limits which was handed to him in June, however the minister will not make a decision on the ban until next year. The government has also refused to release the findings of the report, meaning parents buying e-bikes as gifts for their children this Christmas have no way of knowing whether it will be legal for their children to ride them next year.
Lanyon said it was the responsibility of parents to ensure a bike is age-appropriate for their child.
"When e-bikes are used safely and appropriately, they are a great form of conveyance, they are not dissimilar to a push-bike when they're ridden appropriately, but most children aren't given a push-bike by their parents without being shown how to use them properly," he said. "We ask the same for e-bikes. They are inherently dangerous if ridden incorrectly."
A number of children and teenagers have been hospitalised after e-bike crashes in NSW, including an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old who were thrown from a bike during a crash with a Corolla in Albion Park on Tuesday night. The 11-year-old, who was riding on the back of the bike as a passenger, was flown to Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick with serious injuries. A 14-year-old boy was injured on Tuesday when he crashed his e-bike into a stationary car in Teralba.
Last week, a five-year-old boy was hospitalised with serious injuries including a brain bleed, a fractured skull and a broken leg when he was hit by an e-bike while walking along the footpath outside Tahmoor Public School, in the Wollondilly Shire. The rider of the e-bike was identified as a 16-year-old boy, who is assisting police with their investigation.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The dispute between the police commissioner and union could affect how officers respond to e-bike incidents, potentially impacting public safety and police accountability.
- Rising hospitalisations of children from e-bike crashes, including critical injuries, highlight a growing community safety concern.
- The delay in releasing the expert report on age limits leaves families without guidance during the Christmas gift-buying season, with government decisions pending next year.
Background
E-bikes, especially overpowered models, have become a contentious issue in NSW as injuries among young riders have risen. The NSW government has been seizing and crushing illegal e-bikes and has promised safety reforms, including potential age restrictions. The Police Association's boycott directive follows criminal charges against two officers after a pursuit incident, reflecting tensions over legal protections for police.
Key Perspectives
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon: Officers work for the commissioner and have an oath to uphold; parents must ensure bikes are age-appropriate and children are taught safe use.
Police Association of NSW President Kevin Morton: Police lack sufficient legal protections to pursue e-bike riders without risk of criminal prosecution, and "enough is enough."
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley: Voiced disagreement with the union's directive.
What to Watch
- Whether Transport Minister John Graham releases the expert report on age limits or makes a decision before the new year.
- The outcome of the criminal case against the two charged officers, which could influence future union actions.
- Any escalation in e-bike-related injuries or fatal incidents that could intensify political pressure for immediate reforms.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe NSW police commissioner disagrees with the union over e-bike pursuits.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Lanyon and NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley on Wednesday voiced their disagreement with the powerful Police Association and reminded officers of their oath.”
- SupportedLanyon says officers have an oath to uphold.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Lanyon and NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley on Wednesday voiced their disagreement with the powerful Police Association and reminded officers of their oath.”
- SupportedThe Police Association directed officers to stop pursuing dangerous e-bike and motorbike riders.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The Police Association of NSW has directed officers to no longer pursue dangerous riders on e-bikes and motorbikes”
- Partly supportedThe Association argues officers lack protection from criminal prosecution.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Association president Kevin Morton argued police were not afforded enough protections to pursue e-bikes without fearing criminal prosecution.”
- SupportedLanyon said, “The NSW Police Force obviously work for their commissioner. The police have an oath of office, and they'll continue to do that.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““The NSW Police Force obviously work for their commissioner. The police have an oath of office, and they’ll continue to do that,” Lanyon said.”
- SupportedMorton said, “There comes a point where enough is enough. That point has now been reached.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““There comes a point where enough is enough. That point has now been reached,” he said.”
- SupportedLanyon said e-bikes are “a great form of conveyance” when used safely and appropriately and are “inherently dangerous if ridden incorrectly.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““When e-bikes are used safely and appropriately, they are a great form of conveyance”
- SupportedTwo officers were charged after allegedly hitting a woman with a marked police car and knocking her from her bike; they are alleged to have left without rendering aid.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “after two officers were charged after allegedly hitting a woman in a marked police car and knocking her from her bike. It is alleged the officers left the scene without rendering aid.”
- SupportedThe expert report on potential age limits was handed to John Graham in June, and he will not decide on a ban until next year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Transport Minister John Graham commissioned an expert report into potential age limits which was handed to him in June, however, the minister will not make a decision on the ban until next year.”
- SupportedThe government has refused to release the report’s findings, leaving parents buying e-bikes as Christmas gifts unsure whether their children can legally ride them next year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The government has also refused to release the findings of the report, meaning parents buying e-bikes as gifts for their children this Christmas have no way of knowing whether it will be legal for their children to ride them next year.”
- SupportedAn 11-year-old and a 13-year-old were thrown from a bike in a crash with a Corolla in Albion Park on Tuesday night; the 11-year-old passenger was flown to Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick with serious injuries.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “including an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old who were thrown from a bike during a crash with a Corolla in Albion Park on Tuesday night. The 11-year-old, who was riding on the back of the bike as a passenger, was flown to Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick with serious injuries.”
- SupportedA five-year-old boy was hospitalised with serious injuries after being hit by an e-bike outside Tahmoor Public School, and the rider was identified as a 16-year-old boy assisting police with their investigation.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Last week, a five-year-old boy was hospitalised with serious injuries including a brain bleed, a fractured skull and a broken leg when he was hit by an e-bike while walking along the footpath outside Tahmoor Public School, in the Wollondilly Shire. The rider of the e-bike was identified as a 16-year-old boy, who is assisting police with their investigation.”