Senior public servant wrote ‘police will be dispersing them if numbers exceed capacity’ while premier says protesters confronted after attempting to march

The independent police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (Lecc), is investigating alleged police brutality. Several protesters have said they will launch civil claims against NSW police.

In messages from the night on the encrypted messaging app Signal, the secretary of the NSW premier’s department, Simon Draper, wrote to the deputy secretary, Kate Meagher, at 5.42pm.

“What’s the view from POC Kate Meagher? Numbers? Static?” Draper wrote, according to the chat released under FoI laws.

“Static for now, but there are some speakers urging marching. At least 3-4K,” Meagher replies. “Police will be dispersing them if numbers exceed capacity. Crowd sentiment is reportedly calm. Lots of mums and dads.”