RLC in the media

NSW Police have been accused of using bike fines as a "hidden justice system" to enable searches of poor and vulnerable people, with new data obtained under freedom of information laws showing penalties are soaring in some suburbs while others have none. Nigel Gladstone reports for The Sydney Morning Herald

With over a thousand now imposed statewide, the controversial COVID-19 infringement notices that NSW police has been issuing since 26 March are some of the steepest on-the-spot fines available to it. Paul Gregoire reports for Sydney Criminal Lawyers

RLC's Samantha Lee was a guest on The Drum, speaking alongside journalist Osman Faruqi about concerns that a disproportionate number of COVID-19 fines appear to be being issued in lower socioeconomic areas. The Drum (21 April 2020).

There are calls for more police data and accountability to monitor how authorities are enforcing the coronavirus restrictions in Australia. Jarni Blakkarly reports for SBS News

Police in New South Wales and Victoria have used new laws restricting public movement to fine more than 50 people for reasons including eating a kebab on a bench and sitting in a car. Max Opray reports for The Saturday Paper

NSW police have revealed that all but one strip search lead to the discovery of illicit drugs at an underage music festival in Sydney on the weekend. Angelica Snowden reports for The Australian

One in 10 children at a Sydney under-age music festival faced random drug testing that has been labelled by legal experts “potentially unlawful” and an infringement on civil liberties. Andrew Taylor reports for The Sydney Morning Herald

NSW Police have disproportionately targeted Indigenous children with a secretive blacklist since the year 2000, a two-year investigation has found. Zac Crellin reports for Pedestrian

Justice advocates ask why government didn’t renew contract of head of LECC, who was holding high-profile and potentially embarrassing inquiry. Michael McGowan reports for The Guardian Australia

With the festival season upon us, so too is the debate over pill testing. David Smeidt reports for GQ Magazine