Jack Gramenz reports for ACP Newswire.
Hundreds of people who attended Splendour In The Grass from 2016 to 2019 in northern NSW may have been unlawfully searched, according to law firm Slater & Gordon and the Redfern Legal Centre.
"This groundbreaking class action will seek redress for the many people subjected to invasive and traumatic searches," Redfern Legal Centre principal solicitor Alexis Goodstone said on Tuesday.
The legal centre and Slater & Gordon claim they have evidence "systemic and unlawful police searches" were carried out.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott said he would wait to see what the lawsuit says before becoming concerned about any potential payouts.
An investigation by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission last year reported NSW Police performed unlawful strip searches at the 2018 Splendour, including on a 16-year-old girl.
The LECC also found police were not properly trained to uphold search laws and failed to ensure privacy and dignity for people being searched.
The commission recommended record keeping be enhanced to improve accountability.
Slater & Gordon senior associate Ebony Birchall said an unlawful police search is an assault and therefore gives rise to compensation claims.
"We believe that hundreds of people who were searched by police at Splendour may have been subject to unlawful searches and therefore may be entitled to compensation," Dr Birchall said.
Read the full article here. (ACP Newswire, 16 November 2021)
