Man Charged for Vandalism at NSW Police Memorial

Steven Joseph Smith-Ince, 43, has been charged with vandalizing the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance in Sydney, where derogatory words like 'evil' and 'dogs' were scratched into the monument dedicated to fallen officers. He was arrested on Monday after police began investigating the incident, which was discovered during Australia Day celebrations. In court, Smith-Ince's lawyer argued for his transfer to a mental health facility due to his complex PTSD and bipolar disorder; however, the magistrate denied the request, noting that he appeared lucid during the hearing. NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the act as 'disgusting' while Police Minister Yasmin Catley described it as a 'vile attack' on a sacred site. Smith-Ince remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court on February 11 to enter his plea. The incident is part of a troubling trend of attacks on memorials across the region.