NSW Police names Mal Lanyon as Karen Webb's replacement after she resigns

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley announced on Wednesday that Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon has been promoted to the top job at NSW Police, ending a months-long search that began after Karen Webb resigned from the force. Lanyon will officially take the reins on October 1, marking a transition at Australia’s largest police agency after Webb, who joined the force in 1987 and led it from February 2022, exits at the end of September.

Lanyon has been a fixture at the top ranks of the NSW Police, serving as a deputy commissioner since 2019. In 2024, he was seconded as chief executive to the NSW Reconstruction Authority, a role tied to leading flood recovery efforts in the Northern Rivers region in 2022. His track record as a steady administrator and crisis manager helped position him as the frontrunner in a field that included several high-ranking officers. Among those publicly considered as potential contenders were Acting Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell, Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood, and Deputy Commissioner David Hudson. With his appointment, NSW Police moves to appoint a leader with long experience inside the force and a demonstrated capacity to manage major public-safety challenges.

Webb’s tenure as the force’s first female commissioner was marked by a mix of high-profile crises and internal reforms. She inherited a force that had grappled with a severe shortage of sworn officers, a shortage that at times left thousands of frontline vacancies unfilled. The administration introduced incentives to recruit and retain staff, including proposals to accelerate training for new recruits, and partnered with the ministerial office to secure pay increases in 2024, lifting remuneration for rank-and-file officers and for many in senior roles. The changes sought to address recruiting and morale amid an era of intensified public scrutiny and rising demand for police services.

Webb’s leadership also faced controversy over a series of incidents and communications decisions. In 2023, the fatal tasering of Clare Nowland in Cooma drew widespread criticism of the initial police response, prompting scrutiny of the police department’s communication strategy and the propriety of public statements issued by the commissioner’s office. The following year, Webb was questioned over a high-profile shooting in which two men were killed by a serving officer, Beau Lamarre-Condon, with observers citing perceived delays and inconsistencies in the department’s public communications. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission later found that Webb should have disclosed a friendship with a supplier who provided 50 bottles of custom-labeled gin bought with public funds, a finding that prompted reforms, including a ban on using taxpayers’ money to purchase alcohol for gifts and hospitality.

In parallel with these episodes, Webb’s leadership style and media strategy faced criticism from political opponents and some officers who argued for greater clarity and consistency from the top. The opposition police spokesman noted that frontline officers needed certainty and leadership from the upper tiers of the force, emphasizing that public confidence hinges on visible and accountable governance. Webb’s administration also experienced a high rate of turnover among media advisers, with termination payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, a development that drew scrutiny over governance and cost management.

The appointment of Lanyon is being framed by officials as a move toward stability and continuity at a moment when NSW Police continues to confront structural challenges, including recruitment shortfalls, evolving public-safety expectations, and expanding statutory duties across urban and regional communities. Minns and Catley underscored the importance of a leadership transition that preserves operational momentum while addressing long-standing concerns about transparency and accountability in the force.

Webb’s departure, effective September 30, closes an 18-month tenure that began with strong public support but encountered mounting pressure over operational capacity, crisis response, and governance issues. She is expected to remain out of the workforce for a brief period before pursuing other ventures, as publicly disclosed by her office and associated government communications channels. For NSW Police, the shift represents a formal handover to a commander whose long service record and familiarity with the department’s internal culture and external demands are viewed as assets for guiding the force through a period of reform and ongoing public accountability.

As Lanyon steps into the role, the force faces ongoing challenges that will test his leadership, including maintaining morale among officers, sustaining recruitment pipelines, and continuing to implement reforms designed to improve transparency and community engagement. The official handover will occur on October 1, with Webb’s exit scheduled for the last day of September. In the interim, senior commanders have emphasized operational continuity, ensuring that crime prevention and public safety initiatives maintain their momentum during the transition.