Oxford Street, Sydney: More police raids at LGBTQI nightlife hub spark outcry

Police have been accused of targeting the queer community following fresh raids on venues in Australia’s most famous LGBTQI nightlife precinct.

Accompanied by drug-sniffing dogs, police conducted an operation on Sydney’s Oxford St on Saturday night — their second in three months.

The law enforcement watchdog is investigating the June raids, labelled “excessive, aggressive and intimidating” by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and independent MP Alex Greenwich.

James Twigg was inside Oxford St venue ARQ when police arrived on Saturday night.

He estimated 15 officers entered the venue and searched several patrons.

“They were trying to be respectful as always, but it felt targeted,” he told AAP.

“It felt targeted towards the LGBT community. It felt like easy wins for revenue raising.

“Nightlife is already dying, and we’re trying so hard to rejuvenate it. Police raids like that are traumatising.”

Another patron, Chase, noticed a line of police after arriving at the venue shortly after midnight.

“It just felt like going into the venue that we had already done something wrong,” he told AAP.

Saxon, who has worked as a door host in Sydney for more than three decades, encountered about 20 police officers outside the nearby Riley Hotel about 1.30am.

“Two officers had a girl pulled up who was really, really crying and super upset, really scared, and they were questioning her,” they told AAP.

Saxon and their friends went to a back lane to call an Uber.

“I saw multiple other people trying to avoid the cops go through back lanes ... just so they didn’t have to be on Oxford St and be confronted by the police,” they said.

“In my eyes, they’re making people more unsafe on multiple levels.”

Police conducted 65 searches, which resulted in 28 drug detections, 12 fines, six cannabis cautions and one move-on direction.

“Officers ... aimed to proactively disrupt and address drug supply, antisocial behaviour, harm and other offences,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“Surry Hills PAC remains committed to working in a collaborative, respectful, and supportive manner with our local community, including our LGBTQIA+ community.”

Night Time Industries Association vice-chair James Thorpe questioned that thought process.

“Searching large numbers of patrons in gay venues and producing fines for low-level possession is not the same thing as dismantling the supply chain,” he said.

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission directed police to investigate the June raids after an initial probe found no wrongdoing.

Redfern Legal Centre police accountability practice lead Rian Terrell said it was concerning police had conducted another raid while the investigation was ongoing.

“That NSW Police chose to raid Oxford St again, when that investigation has not concluded, raises further concerns about NSW Police’s lack of accountability,” he said.