Alex Gallagher reports for NME
A class action has been filed against the state of New South Wales, accusing police of committing unlawful strip searches at music festivals in the state.
A statement of claim has been filed in the NSW Supreme Court by Redfern Legal Centre and Slater and Gordon Lawyers on behalf of people who were allegedly subjected to invasive, unlawful strip searches at festivals including Splendour in the Grass over the past six years.
In a statement, Samantha Lee, senior police accountability solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre, claimed their investigations had shown “invasive and unlawful police searches at NSW festivals have become routine, resulting in very few charges, but leaving thousands of young people and minors humiliated and severely traumatised”.
Lee added: “Time has shown that police policy changes and internal education programs will not prevent the overuse of this blunt and harmful policing tool. Ultimately, we need legislative change to ensure safer policing and real change. Until that time, we are looking to the courts to clarify in what circumstances strip searches are lawful.”
Read the full article: Festivalgoers launch class action against state of NSW alleging unlawful strip-searches by police (NME, 22 July 2022).
