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Media Release - Notice of Public Examination - Operation Almas

28 November 2025

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission will be holding public examinations in Operation Almas commencing on Wednesday, 3 December 2025 at 10:00am and will continue until Monday, 8 December 2025 (weekdays only).

Operation Almas concerns the circumstances surrounding the NSW Police Force response to a 000-call made on the evening of 3 January 2023 reporting that a woman was being bashed behind the Salvation Army building in Ballina. Tragically, Ms Lindy Lucena passed away as a result of this incident at Ballina, NSW in January of 2023.

During the hearings it is likely there will be evidence and discussion on the issues of:

  • the radio broadcast and dispatch of police in relation to the 000 call received;
  • the response (including timing) of NSW Police Force Officers to the radio broadcast;
  • the actions of NSW Police Force Officers on attending the location of the alleged assault; and
  • the decision by NSW Police Force Officers not to declare a critical incident in relation to the death of Lindy Lucena, and any review of that decision.

These hearings are intended to assist the Commission to understand if there are any systemic issues that could be areas for agency improvement.

The Commission will provide a recording and transcript of the hearing via its website www.lecc.nsw.gov.au (provided they are not subject to non-publication orders) following the hearings.

Witnesses will include senior communications officers, officers on operational duty on 3 January 2023 and more senior officers who had a role in making the decision not to declare a critical incident.

The identities of some witnesses are subject to non-publication orders.

Commissioner Anina Johnson will preside at the hearings. Counsel Assisting the Commission will be Ms Emma Sullivan of Counsel.

Members of the public and the media may attend the hearings in-person.

Mobile phones will be allowed in the hearing room.

Filming and recording will not be allowed in the hearing room or in Commission premises.

For further information, please contact the Commission’s media liaison below.

Due to limited space in the hearing room, interested media are invited to register their attendance via email: media@lecc.nsw.gov.au.

Time: 10:00 am

Date: Wednesday, 3 December 2025 through to Monday, 8 December 2025 (weekdays only).

Location: Commission’s hearing room, level 3, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.

Access:  www.lecc.nsw.gov.au (recording will be available following the hearing generally within 24 hours)

Non-publication orders: Pursuant to s 176 of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Act 2016 the Commissioner directs that there be no publication of the name or image of persons who have been referred to by pseudonym unless the Commission otherwise directs.

Background

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is an independent statutory body. The principal functions of the Commission are to detect, investigate and expose serious misconduct and serious maladministration within the NSW Police Force.

The Commission is separate from and completely independent of the NSW Police Force. The Commission will treat all information confidentially and has powers to protect people who provide information to it.

LECC Media Contact

Mobile: 0425 317 535

Email: media@lecc.nsw.gov.au