Are police destroying their relationships with young people through aggressive tactics involved with strip searches? Reports have described young people feeling intimated and avoid approaching police for fear of them being targeted. This could become dangerous when police are the agency we should encourage our young people to ask for assistance when in a time of need.
As the rate of strip searches in NSW has almost doubled in just one year, hundreds of similar stories have emerged.
Under the law, police can only conduct a strip search if they believe there are serious and urgent grounds to do so — especially if a person is suspected of carrying concealed drugs or weapons.
The increase in complaints has now sparked independent inquiry by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission into allegations NSW Police are abusing their strip search powers.
In response, Redfern Legal Centre in Sydney has launched the Safe and Sound campaign to provide legal advice to festival-goers through a website and app.
“Young people are being humiliated and scared by the strip search processes,” said RLC's Police Powers solicitor Sam Lee, whose clients are as young as 18.
Read the full article here (9 January 2019)
