Indigenous mothers reach settlement with NSW Police over bail check trespass case

Two Indigenous mothers have settled a trespass case against the New South Wales police following a long-running legal battle over invasive bail checks at their homes. The settlement, announced on Friday 11 September 2026, concludes a legal challenge initiated in April 2024 after officers repeatedly entered private residences to check on children, often in the early hours of the morning. According to reporting by The Guardian, the case centered on the experiences of two women, identified by the pseudonyms Megan and Joanne. Megan, a single mother in regional NSW, reported that police attended her home more than 150 times over a 20-month period to conduct checks on her sons, who were aged 11 and 13 at the time. Many of these visits occurred between midnight and 4am, involving officers banging on doors and entering through back gates. Joanne, based in western Sydney, reported over 90 visits in 18 months, including three checks within a single night. Represented by the Justice and Equity Centre, the mothers argued that many of these checks were conducted without the necessary court authorization, legally amounting to trespass. While NSW police maintained the officers were acting lawfully to manage public safety, a 2025 report from the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission found that police had been relying on weak legal principles to conduct such checks without specific court warrants. Solicitor Kate Sinclair praised the bravery of the two women for standing up for their families and communities. The settlement terms remain confidential and were reached three weeks before the matter was scheduled for trial in the Supreme Court. Megan noted that while the impact on her children has been significant, the legal resolution allows her eldest son to move forward with greater dignity. A separate federal court case regarding allegations of racial discrimination remains ongoing.