NSW's top cop has conceded police can do better on gay hate crimes a day after issuing an apology for failings detailed in a scathing inquiry into suspected LGBTQI-bias homicides.
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Police Commissioner Karen Webb released a written apology for police failures highlighted in the 18-month-long special inquiry, which found gay hate bias was a likely factor in 25 of 32 suspected homicides from 1970 to 2010.
"The fact that I made an apology that was printed on Sunday goes to the fact that we can do things better," she told reporters on Monday.
The inquiry's highly critical report, handed down in December, made 12 recommendations about police unsolved homicide operations, including calling for a review of team practices, procedures and resources.
It came after public hearings revealed poor police record-keeping, with multiple examples of crucial evidence being lost, destroyed or misplaced over the years.
"In the report there is a lot to consider and if it is that we as a current organisation were difficult to deal with I'll accept that," Ms Webb said.
She said police would respond to the report's findings by the end of March.
Premier Chris Minns said the government was considering the report's findings, noting no date had been set for an official response.
More time was needed for consideration given some recommendations had funding implications and others could mean law changes, he added.
"We need to make sure that when we issue the response that we have confidence that it can be fully implemented," Mr Minns said.
Greens MP Sue Higginson said it was critical to implement recommendations from experts to ensure best practice by police in dealing with bias crimes.
"It should now be expedited in light of recent events," she told AAP.
"Not only should experts be urgently engaged in this matter, but it is of utmost importance that any process undertaken be done so independently."
Ms Higginson added Ms Webb's apology would not change the current policing system unless there was also "drastic and urgent action".
Inquiry commissioner John Sackar's report urged police to conduct a systematic review or audit of all unsolved homicides from 1970 to 2010 and to mandate training on LGBTQI issues.
It said an apology by NSW Police was not just warranted, but overdue.
Independent state MP Alex Greenwich, who is gay, said a co-ordinated response to the report was needed from police, government and the LGBTQI community.
"They really need to do it in a co-designed way with LGBTQ organisations," he said.
"There is a lot of heartache, historic heartache within the LGBTQ community. There is a trust deficit and we need to be working better together."
Australian Associated Press
