The final report on this two year enquiry found officers under investigation for unlawful strip searches made no attempt to contact a parent, guardian or support person which is required by law for anyone search under the age of 18. The report also detailed on the disproportional number of searches conducted on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander represented, and harrowing examples of strip searches made on young people at music festivals.
Police accountability solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre Samantha Lee spoke to 2ser Radio about the report and its recommendations.
“Strip searches were never designed or implemented to be conducted on the suspicion of minor drug possession.” Lee said.
“(The report) really questions whether the serious and urgent legal threshold is being met by police when thousands of strip searches have been conducted with nothing found.”
Listen to the full story here. (25 January 2021)
