ON WEDNESDAY 22 March at 9.59pm, three NSW Police Public Order and Riot Squad officers arrived at the Coffs Harbour home of Mark Graham, a well known local ecologist and conservation advocate.

In a video shared by Mr Graham, the three officers can be seen entering Mr Graham’s yard.

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Having heard unfamiliar noises outside his home and seeing torchlight, Mr Graham looked out the window and saw the uniformed officers.

“I took a deep breath to centre myself and then went outside to ask them what they were doing,” Mr Graham told News Of The Area.

One of the officers then informed Mr Graham that they were at the property to perform a ‘bail check’ and to “make sure you’re spending each night here”.

Mr Graham is on bail conditions that ban him from entering all State Forests in NSW and that prohibit him from mentioning Forestry Corporation on social media, however there is no stipulation that Mr Graham is under curfew or must be at home at night.

“I was horrified that three members of the riot squad had invaded my property on the false premise of a ‘bail check’,” Mr Graham said.

“I was harassed and intimidated by these three officers.

“I asked them to leave my property which they thankfully did.

“Fortunately, I filmed the entirety of my interactions with these three members of the riot squad.”

Mr Graham told NOTA that his lawyer has written to complain to NSW Police about the visit, which he views as an unlawful invasion of his home.

“I want to know who ordered the riot squad to do this,” said Mr Graham.

“This harassment and intimidation of me is absolutely unacceptable and has caused me great harm.”

A NSW Police Force spokesman told NOTA on Friday 24 March, “While we are unable to comment on a particular individual, I can advise that the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS) have been in the Coffs Harbour area for a couple of days to assist local police with a pro-active operation which also included conducting inquiries to locate people with outstanding warrants and bail compliance checks.

“If a member of the public wishes to make a complaint about a police interaction, they can report concerns via the NSW Police Force Community Assistance Portal online.

“The Public Order and Riot Squad have the capabilities to be deployed across NSW where necessary.”

Mr Graham’s current bail conditions relate to various charges that arose from his arrest on the Western Dorrigo Plateau in September 2022.

Mr Graham has pleaded not guilty to all these charges, some of which relate to the alleged assault of Mr Graham and a friend by logging staff contracted to Forestry Corp.

A Forestry Corporation officer filmed the incident, which took place on a public road.

Mr Graham is vigorously defending himself against all of the charges.

By Andrea FERRARI