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Dramatic rise in police strip searches on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during COVID-19

MONDAY, 02 NOVEMBER 2020 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2 November 2020

An orange arch containing the text Redfern Legal Centre

RLC in the media

Police strip-searched 96 children in 2020, indigenous youth overrepresented

Despite everything else this year has thrown at us, it seems the controversial strip-searching of children by New South Wales’ police continues unabated. As The Guardian’s Michael McGowan has noted, 96 have been searched in 2020, with some as young as eleven.

2 November 2020

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: An 11-Year-Old Indigenous Child Was Among 96 Kids Strip-Searched By NSW Police Last Year

Disturbing new data from NSW Police shows the deeply invasive – and potentially illegal – practice of strip-searching is still disproportionately targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, some of which are children as young as 11. Michael Di Iorio writes for Pedestrian TV.

2 November 2020

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: The abuse of police powers goes beyond recent protests

The ‘funding cuts’ protest on 14 October was yet another demonstration of passionate, peaceful students’ action. Except that this one received media coverage for all the wrong reasons. Professor Simon Rice writes for Honi Soit

29 October 2020

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: Deaths in custody: David Dungay's mother tells NSW parliament 'the system is broken'

Leetona Dungay addresses upper house inquiry saying law should be changed to help stop black deaths in custody

27 October 2020

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: Asylum Seekers and Police Powers

Marisa Sposaro speaks to Samantha Lee, Police Accountability Solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre, for Doin Time on 3cr Radio.

19 October 2020

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: $89M in civil claims against NSW Police revealed

Nearly $90 million of taxpayer money has been paid out by NSW Police in hundreds of civil claims alleging police brutality, unlawful searches and illegal arrests over the last four financial years, NewsLocal reveals. Jake McCallum, reports for NewsLocal (Daily Telegraph)

14 October 2020

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: Data reveals Indigenous people in regional NSW targeted by police strip searches

New data reveals Indigenous people in NSW regional communities are excessively targeted with “invasive” police strip searches. Mikele Syron reports for NITV News

17 September 2020

Young woman standing at microphone in front of two colourful banners

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: Concerns raised over police body worn video decision

An internal review examining the use of police Body Worn Video (BWV) in NSW has concluded police should retain discretion about when to activate their BWV cameras, citing privacy concerns. But RLC solicitor Samantha Lee says that it is in everyone's interest that all police interactions with the public are recorded. Damien Carrick reports for the Law Report, ABC Radio National.

28 August 2020

RLC in the media

RLC in the Media: Black Lives Matter - A Roadmap for Policing and Justice Reform

In August, ABC Radio National aired highlights from an online discussion calling for policing and justice reform in Australia, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Facilitated by Larissa Behrendt (UTS). Broadcast by Speaking Out, ABC Radio National.

25 August 2020

News and Events

News & media

Topics

Dramatic rise in police strip searches on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during COVID-19

Police strip-searched 96 children in 2020, indigenous youth overrepresented

RLC in the Media: An 11-Year-Old Indigenous Child Was Among 96 Kids Strip-Searched By NSW Police Last Year

RLC in the Media: The abuse of police powers goes beyond recent protests

RLC in the Media: Deaths in custody: David Dungay's mother tells NSW parliament 'the system is broken'

RLC in the Media: Asylum Seekers and Police Powers

RLC in the Media: $89M in civil claims against NSW Police revealed

RLC in the Media: Data reveals Indigenous people in regional NSW targeted by police strip searches

RLC in the Media: Concerns raised over police body worn video decision

RLC in the Media: Black Lives Matter - A Roadmap for Policing and Justice Reform

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