<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A mural celebrating Sydney's queer history that was erected at Surry Hills Police Station has been quietly taken down in a matter of days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Police asked artist Jeremy Smith for a print of his work </span><em><span>Queer Sydney: A History</span></em><span> to be hung up in the station's muster room last month, which sits just metres away from the city's queer district of Oxford Street.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The piece celebrates Sydney's history and features several Australian LGBTQI+ figures like actor Magda Szubanski, drag queen Courtney Act, author Benjamin Law and High Court judge Michael Kirby.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/openai-sora-why-youre-seeing-ai-videos-on-your-social-media-feed-explained/d319cd50-a643-4c84-a542-a1913447508f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Why your social media feeds are being overrun by AI videos</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Smith said he was cautious at first but agreed to work with police because he believed "art can build bridges where there has been hurt and misunderstanding".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But days after it was hung up, it was taken down. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Police refused to say what the reason was, but the ABC reported two police sources had confirmed it is because an officer complained.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/nsw-police-take-down-artist-jeremy-smiths-mural-from-sydneys-surry-hills-police-station-days-after-it-was-hung/4398a5a1-8e23-4eca-a093-0ba1a5f7f785" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is working with Smith on a new artwork for the Surry Hills Police Station.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We acknowledge the diversity within our organisation and of the communities we serve," a NSW Police spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We encourage respectful dialogue and mutual understanding, and we remain committed to ensuring that every member of the organisation feels seen, safe and valued."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/afterpay-outage-australia-new-zealand-canada-america-millions-affected/27aed589-acf2-4764-a9db-c95215d8c5ff" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Millions affected as Afterpay hit by global outage</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Smith said he was "disappointed" but remained "proud" that it prompted conversation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I acknowledge that confronting the past can be challenging for some, but it is only through facing and accepting it that we can truly heal and move forward together," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My hope has always been that the work fosters empathy, reflection, and healing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While I'm disappointed it's no longer on display, I accept the police decision and remain proud that it prompted conversation about our shared history and the progress still being made."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The relationship between NSW Police and the LGBTQI+ community has been affected by decades of mistrust and police brutality.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former police commissioner Karen Webb promised to strengthen the relationship after a serving officer was accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in February last year, and police were initially uninvited from marching at the Sydney Mardi Gras parade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sunscreen-recall-two-more-sunscreen-products-recalled-over-spf-concerns/88be4014-1028-45b5-abf2-422831cf45a1" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Another two sunscreens pulled from shelves over SPF concerns</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Webb, who was criticised for her handling of the alleged murders, also apologised to the families of gay hate crime victims that same month after a damning report found officers had inadequately and unfairly investigated their deaths over 40 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her successor, Mal Lanyon, has yet to publicly comment on how he would work with the community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Smith said it was important to keep engaging with institutions and having conversations so that "meaningful progress" can happen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While it's vital we acknowledge the difficult parts of our shared history, doing so can remind us how far we've come and how we can continue to make things better," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We all want a more inclusive future, and that comes from empathy, understanding, and a willingness to work together. Anger alone doesn't build change, collaboration does."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>