A new report from Redfern Legal Centre has found that police strip searches in New South Wales have increased almost twentyfold in 12 years.
The Rethinking Strip Searches by NSW Police report launched in Sydney today. The report, prepared by UNSW Law academics Dr Michael Grewcock and Dr Vicki Sentas, states that the law fails to provide police with proper guidance on conducting a strip search procedure.
“A strip search is the most invasive form of personal search available to police without a court order,” Dr Sentas shared in a press release.
“Yet over the past decade we have seen the number of strip searches continue to rise. Our findings reveal such searches are doing little to tackle serious drug crime.”
The report investigates the operation of strip search laws across Australia — specifically concerns around safeguards and transparency. It also offers recommendations on law reform. These recommendations include:
Read the full article here (The Industry Observer, 22 August 2019)
