The Fixation Persons Investigation Unit (FPIU) is a division of the New South Wales Police Force first established in 2017. It is comprised of both police officers and mental health specialists who are tasked with identifying "potentially vulnerable people who may be at risk of exposure to extremist material."
Arrest of friendlyjordies Producer Kristo Langker
Kristo Langker was arrested by the FPIU on the 4th of June 2021 and charged with four counts of "stalking or intimidating with the intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm" against then-Deputy Premier John Barilaro. The arrest was made following a complaint by Mr. Barilaro.
Following Mr. Langker's arrest the NSW police released a statement:
"The behaviour of the accused, friendly jordies and the public reach of the friendly jordies media platform has caused the victim to be constantly anxious and in fear of his and his families [sic]...Due to the public reach and offensive nature of the friendly jordies media platform, the victim in his public position is harassed by the followers of Friendly Jordies.”"
Mr. Langker plead not guilty to the charges within the following weeks. Outside court he spoke to media and noted the potential significance of his arrest:
"Quite frankly what you’re doing right now, which is a good job and it’s a service to society, if the counter-terrorism police wanted to, they should be able to arrest you based on the precedent they’ve set arresting me."
Mr. Langker was also asked "why he didn't like Barilaro." Mr. Langker responded that "it wasn’t about liking him," and that "it’s about doing journalism."
Mr. Langker's lawyer, Mark Davis, labelled the arrest as 'outrageous':
“It was outrageous that he was even arrested under these circumstances. They could well have dealt with this as they deal with every other citizen, with an AVO warning or ask him to him to the police station...To invade him, to throw him on the floor, to put him in handcuffs, and then to barge into his house, his mother is traumatised…as is his girlfriend…and his poor dog. Anything can go wrong when you send in what is effectively a counter-terrorism unit to execute a very minor charge. Things can go seriously wrong.”
Charges Dropped
In March 2022 it was reported that all charges against Mr. Langker had been dropped with magistrate Susan McIntyre ordering NSW police to pay legal costs of $12,000. A hearing had originally scheduled for May of 2022.
Mr. Davis, told media that his reputation had been tarnished and reflected on the likelihood of Mr. Langker being convicted:
“He suffered enormous damage to his reputation. It’s not a nice thing to be called a stalker when it’s utterly untrue...It’s disturbing to reflect that if Kristo hadn’t filmed it, if he didn’t have the resources of a legal team, he would likely be marching forward to a conviction."
Charges Laid by the Fixated Persons Investigation Unit
The friendlyjordies Team has been provided 5 pages of documentation listing the charges laid by the FPIU from the 1st of May 2017 through to the 31st of July 2021. These documents were released under Standing Order 52 of the NSW Parliament.
The full list of screen captured documents can be viewed below:
Friendlyjordies Youtube Coverage of the Fixated Persons Investigation Unit
The friendlyjordies team has covered the FPIU extensively since the arrest of producer, Kristo Langker. The full timeline of videos covering the FPIU, in order, can be viewed below.