Editing Strip search (section)

==Notable incidents==

=== Australia ===

==== New South Wales ====
{{Main|New South Wales Police Force strip search scandal}}
[[File:Drug Detection Dog Defqon 2017.jpg|thumb|Police and a drug detection dog at the entrance of the [[Defqon.1 Festival|Defqon]] music festival in [[Sydney]] in 2017]]
Following the introduction of a controversial law in 2001, [[New South Wales Police Force|New South Wales Police]] were given the power to deploy [[Detection dog|drug detection dogs]] at major public events such as [[Music festival|music festivals]], inside licensed premises (venues that serve alcohol) and at stations across the [[Sydney Trains]] network.<ref>Paul Gregoire, Ugur Nedim. [https://nswcourts.com.au/articles/the-nsw-laws-relating-to-drug-detection-dogs/ The NSW Laws Relating to Drug Detection Dogs]. Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 17 September 2019</ref><ref name=":2006">{{cite book |url=https://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/Find-a-publication/publications/reports-to-parliament/police/review-of-the-police-powers-drug-detection-dogs-act-2001 |title=Review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Dogs) Act 2001 |date=June 2006 |publisher=New South Wales Ombudsman |isbn=1-921131-36-5 |pages=}}</ref>{{rp|1}}

A report published by the [[Ombudsmen in Australia|New South Wales Ombudsman]] in 2006 found that 74% of searches resulting from drug detection dog indications carried out over a two-year review period had failed to find any illicit drugs.<ref name=":2006" />{{Rp|page=29}} Subsequent figures obtained from NSW Police in 2023 revealed that between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2023, officers had conducted 94,535 personal searches (refers to both strip searches and less invasive [[Frisking|frisk]] or "general" searches) resulting from drug detection dog indications, with only 25% resulting in illicit drugs being found.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mcleod |first=Catie |date=9 November 2023 |title=NSW police sniffer dogs incorrectly detect drugs on patrons despite costing taxpayers $46m over past decade |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/09/nsw-police-sniffer-dogs-incorrectly-detect-illicit-drugs-despite-costing-taxpayers-46m-over-past-decade |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

In late 2014, reports were first published alleging that NSW Police were routinely using drug detection dog indications as a justification for conducting invasive strip searches, particularly at major events such as music festivals.<ref name=":vice">{{Cite news|last=Gregoire|first=Paul|date=10 October 2014|title=Strip Searches are Now Routine in New South Wales|work=Vice|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/strip-searches-are-routine-at-new-south-wales-music-festivals/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Corderoy|first=Amy|date=2 December 2014|title=Police in doghouse over strip searches|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/police-in-doghouse-over-strip-searches-20141201-11xpzh.html}}</ref> At these events, officers have employed the use of structures such as [[Box office|ticket booths]],<ref>[https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/635761/2019-1086.pdf GIPA 2019-1086.] New South Wales Police Force.</ref><ref name=":blackford">[https://www.lecc.nsw.gov.au/news-and-publications/publications/strike-force-blackford-s138-report-july-2020.pdf Report on the monitoring of NSW Police Force misconduct matter investigation – Strike Force Blackford.] Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. July 2020.</ref>{{Rp|page=9}}<ref name=":buzzfeed">{{Cite news|last=Ryan|first=Hannah|date=25 January 2019|title="Humiliating And Embarrassing": This Is What It's Like To Be Strip-Searched At A Music Festival|work=Buzzfeed|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahryan/strip-searching-festivals-australia-campaign}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pengilley|first=Victoria|date=18 June 2019|title=Strip search locations may be putting victims of sexual assault at risk|publisher=ABC [Audio File]|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/strip-search-locations-may-be-putting-vulnerable-people-at-risk/11222414}}</ref> tents,<ref name=":blackford" />{{Rp|page=12}}<ref>[https://www.lecc.nsw.gov.au/investigations/past-investigations/investigation-reports-from-2020/operation-brugge Operation Brugge.] Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. May 2020</ref>{{Rp|page=9}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noore |first=Natasha |date=8 May 2017 |title=Police and the people |url=https://honisoit.com/2017/05/police-and-the-people/ |work=Honi Soit}}</ref> makeshift partitions<ref>{{Cite news |last=Piotrowski |first=Daniel |date=2013-03-07 |title=Man 'forced to strip naked' at Mardi Gras event |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/man-forced-to-strip-naked-at-mardi-gras-event/news-story/db27ac61e03c878ef7191366fe2b232d |access-date= |work=news.com.au}}</ref><ref name=":buzzfeed 2015">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Alex |date=31 May 2015 |title=Should Police Sniffer Dogs Be Banned From Music Festivals? |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexlee/politicians-claim-the-drug-dogs-dont-work |access-date= |website=BuzzFeed |language=en-au}}</ref><ref name=":raya">[https://assets.slatergordon.com.au/downloads/Statement_of_Claim.pdf?mtime=20220722120935&focal=none Statement of Claim – Raya Meredith v State of New South Wales.] 21 July 2022. </ref>{{Rp|page=7}} and police vans<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ziegler |first=Lauren |date=28 November 2015 |title=I Was Strip Searched Before Performing At A Festival |work=HowlandEchoes |url=https://howlandechoes.com/2015/11/strip-searched-performing-festival/}}</ref><ref name=":abc 2018">{{Cite news |last=Crealy |first=Louise |date=7 June 2018 |title=Festival goers take NSW Police to court over sniffer dogs |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/festival-goers-take-nsw-police-to-court-over-sniffer-dogs/9844038 |work=ABC [Audio file]}}</ref> to strip search attendees. In some cases, it was alleged that these structures did not offer adequate privacy to individuals being searched, leaving them exposed to other festivalgoers or officers outside.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGowan |first=Michael |date=27 May 2020 |title=Law firms look to launch landmark strip-search class action against NSW police |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/27/law-firms-look-to-launch-landmark-strip-search-class-action-against-nsw-police |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 October 2019 |title=Tents didn't close for NSW strip-searches |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/officer-admits-error-in-strip-search-form/f30024d3-5d0a-4f64-8086-451fb796ad80 |work=AAP}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Singhal |first=Pallavi |date=9 March 2019 |title=Strip-searched and sent packing: Police to review woman's claims after Sydney music festival |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/stripped-searched-and-sent-packing-police-to-review-woman-s-claims-after-sydney-music-festival-20190309-p512xn.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> After stripping partially or completely naked, festival patrons have been asked to do things such as lift their breasts or genitals,<ref name=":buzzfeed 2015" /><ref name=":buzzfeed" /> bend over,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 December 2015 |title=Strip searches, Facebook after Zuckerberg & tattoos after death |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hack-wednesday/6974662 |work=Triple J Hack (ABC) [Audio File]}}</ref><ref name=":abc 2018" /><ref name=":blackford" />{{Rp|page=4}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGowan |first=Michael |date=22 July 2022 |title=Music festival patrons launch class action against NSW police alleging unlawful strip-searches |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/22/music-festival-patrons-launch-class-action-against-nsw-police-alleging-unlawful-strip-searches}}</ref> spread their buttocks apart<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dias |first=Avani |date=16 November 2021 |title='Bend over, open up': People strip searched at Splendour in the Grass could be entitled to thousands in compensation in class action |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/splendour-in-the-grass-strip-search-class-action-launched/13631790 |work=Triple J Hack (ABC)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Endrey|first=Chris|date=3 March 2019|title=After the Secret Garden: The NSW Police State|work=Medium|url=https://endrey.medium.com/after-secret-garden-the-nsw-police-state-abab5a02fabc}}</ref> or squat and cough.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Packer |first=Clareese |date=3 October 2023 |title=Woman alleges NSW Police officers conducted an illegal strip search on her at Knockout festival |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/music-festivals/woman-alleges-nsw-police-officers-conducted-an-illegal-strip-search-on-her-at-knockout-festival/news-story/3f4b6b444171036ecdc5bd1c75b19890 |work=news.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Angus |date=11 July 2019 |title='Nice and slow': woman battles tears describing police strip-search to inquest |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nice-and-slow-woman-battles-tears-describing-police-strip-search-to-inquest-20190711-p5267p.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pengilley |first=Victoria |date=22 August 2019 |title=NSW Police's use of strip searches skyrocketing, report finds |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-22/new-report-puts-nsw-strip-searches-under-microscope/11435260 |work=ABC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2021 |title=Young people are suing NSW police |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hack/13626106?fbclid=IwAR0GaGesi1FeW_JmXvMqs5INM7weIgzJieUF1SFPOntJUrhxc7ITIrqXTpQ |work=Triple J Hack (ABC) [Audio File]}}</ref> Similar searches have reportedly been conducted during drug detection dog operations at [[Sydney Trains|train stations]] and licensed venues as well.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 July 2020 |title=Sydney police 'asked woman to remove tampon' in strip-search |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-53495146 |work=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gregoire|first=Paul|date=6 November 2015|title=A Facebook Site Is Helping Australians Dodge Drug-Sniffing Dogs|work=Vice|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-facebook-site-is-helping-sydney-residents-avoid-drug-dogs/}}</ref>

Data obtained from NSW Police shows that between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2020, officers conducted 27,835 strip searches "in the field" (outside of a police station).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sentas |first1=Vicki |url=https://rlc.org.au/sites/default/files/attachments/Rethinking-strip-searches-by-NSW-Police-web_0.pdf |title=Rethinking Strip Searches by NSW Police |last2=Grewcock |first2=Michael |date=August 2019 |publisher=UNSW |isbn=978-0-7334-3877-6 |location=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=25}}<ref name=":lecc final">[https://www.lecc.nsw.gov.au/news-and-publications/publications/final-report-an-inquiry-into-nsw-police-force-strip-search-practices-15-december-2020.pdf Inquiry into NSW Police Force strip search practices.] Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. December 2020</ref>{{Rp|page=12}} Separate data shows that during the same six-year period, officers conducted 5659 strip searches resulting from drug detection dog indications.<ref name=":lecc final" />{{Rp|page=72}}

In October 2018, the [[Law Enforcement Conduct Commission]] launched a formal investigation into the use of strip searches by NSW Police. In a final report handed down in December 2020, the Commission found that "a recurrent issue throughout the inquiry was the failure of officers to comply with, or at least to properly account for their compliance with, the legal thresholds for conducting a strip search".<ref name=":lecc final" />{{Rp|page=ii}} In several cases investigated by the Commission, it was found that officers had acted unlawfully.<ref name=":lecc final" />{{Rp|page=3}} The commission also noted that there had been a "significant increase" in the "number and proportion" of strip searches carried out following drug detection dog indications in the five years between 2014 and 2019.<ref name=":lecc final" />{{Rp|page=71}}

In July 2022, a [[class action]] was filed in the [[Supreme Court of New South Wales]] on behalf of patrons strip searched at music festivals by NSW Police from July 2016 onwards. Head plaintiff for the class action is a then 27-year-old woman who was allegedly strip searched at the [[Splendour in the Grass]] music festival in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGowan |first=Michael |date=22 July 2022 |title=Music festival patrons launch class action against NSW police alleging unlawful strip-searches |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/22/music-festival-patrons-launch-class-action-against-nsw-police-alleging-unlawful-strip-searches |work=The Guardian}}</ref> A trial for the class action is expected to be held in mid-2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Nathan |date=21 December 2023 |title=Strip-search lawsuit to go ahead after court bid dismissed |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/stripsearch-lawsuit-to-go-ahead-after-court-bid-dismissed/news-story/eb8df681c0dbd810eb8d06d6f45cb6d8 |work=news.com.au}}</ref>

==== Victoria ====
{{Main article|Tasty nightclub raid}}
In the early hours of 7 August 1994, approximately 40 officers from [[Victoria Police]] took part in a raid at the Tasty nightclub in [[Melbourne]], a popular venue for [[LGBT]] partygoers. Over the course of seven hours, all 463 staff and patrons inside the venue were detained and strip searched, supposedly under the auspices of finding illicit drugs. Patrons were taunted by officers and forced to stand with their hands against the wall for long periods of time while this was happening.

A photo taken secretly during the raid was published on the front page of [[The Age]] newspaper several days later, with then Premier [[Jeff Kennett]] labelling the incident “extreme and disturbing”. A class action subsequently launched against Victoria Police was finalised in 1996, with more than 200 patrons who were present at time each being awarded $10,000 in damages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Starcevic |first=Seb |date=27 July 2019 |title=The night Victorian police raided the Tasty nightclub |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/the-night-victorian-police-raided-the-tasty-nightclub/news-story/6cf95e2b97ea011b2f9d38eff4c84f58 |work=news.com.au}}</ref> In 2014, Victoria Police formally apologised for the Tasty nightclub raid, with Acting Chief Commissioner Lucinda Nolan stating that it had “caused distress to people and had a significant impact on the relationship between Victoria police and the wider LGBTI community”.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 August 2014 |title=Victoria police apologise to LGBTI community for Tasty Nightclub raid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/victoria-police-apologise-to-lgbti-community-for-tasty-nightclub-raid |work=Australian Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Canada ===
As part of [[2010 G20 Toronto summit protests|policing operations for the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto]], a makeshift detention centre was setup by [[Toronto Police Service|Toronto Police]] at a disused film studio on [[Eastern Avenue (Toronto)|Eastern Avenue]]. Over the course of the event, approximately 900 protestors were detained at the facility, where they were subjected poor conditions and mistreatment by police.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Browne |first=Rachel |date=24 July 2014 |title=New footage from Toronto G20 detention centre released |url=https://macleans.ca/news/canada/new-toronto-g20-footage-from-inside-detention-centre-released/ |work=Maclean's}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Talbot |first=Michael |date=29 June 2010 |title=Personal Story: How I Ended Up In A G20 Jail |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2010/06/29/personal-story-how-i-ended-up-in-a-g20-jail/ |work=CityNews}}</ref>

While being held at the Eastern Avenue detention centre, some protesters were strip searched, with officers using cubicles described as “large plywood cells without roofs” to conduct these searches. In 2014, footage obtained by [[Vice Media|Vice]] showed that [[Closed-circuit television camera|CCTV cameras]] could see into these cubicles, leading to fears that protestors detained at the facility were filmed while strip searches were taking place. When asked by Vice, Toronto Police did not respond to questions about the matter and it’s not clear if any such footage exists.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGuire |first=Patrick |date=10 August 2014 |title=The Toronto Police Videotaped Strip Search Chambers During the G20 |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-toronto-police-videotaped-strip-search-chambers-during-the-g20/ |work=Vice}}</ref> In August 2020, the [[Toronto Police Services Board]] agreed to pay $16.5 million dollars to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of around 1100 people who were arrested during the 2010 G20 protests, including some who were detained at the Eastern Avenue detention centre.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lindeman |first=Tracey |date=19 August 2020 |title=Toronto police pay $16.5m to protesters wrongfully held at 2010 G20 summit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/18/g20-protesters-toronto-police-canada |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
In 2014, it was reported that more than 4,600 children had been strip-searched by the [[Metropolitan Police]] in the preceding five years, with the youngest being ten years old. This was out of a total of 134,000 strip-searched. A charity described the number of younger children searched in this way as being "disturbing".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Met officers subject 4,600 children to strip searches over five years|last=Davenport|first=Justin|date=17 March 2014|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|page=22}}</ref> In 2022, it was reported that 650 children (between 10 and 17 years old) had been strip-searched by the same agency between 2018 and 2020. 58% of these children were described as [[Black British people|black]] by the arresting officer; in 2018, this rose to 75%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weale |first1=Sally |last2=Dodd |first2=Vikram |title=Revealed: Met police strip-searched 650 children in two-year period |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/08/police-data-raises-alarm-over-welfare-of-strip-searched-children |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 August 2022}}</ref> 70% of children who were strip-searched without an [[appropriate adult]] present – contrary to official Metropolitan Police guidance – were black boys.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duggan |first1=Joe |title=Hundreds of children forced into 'traumatic' Met police strip search faced no further action |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/children-strip-searched-met-police-no-further-action-1783673 |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=[[inews.co.uk]] |date=8 August 2022}}</ref>

In January 2022, the Metropolitan Police formally apologised to Dr Koshka Duff, an academic who was strip searched at [[Stoke Newington]] police station in 2013. The woman had been arrested for obstruction after attempting to offer a legal advice card to a black teenager during a [[stop and search]] in [[London]]. Once in custody, a Sergeant ordered two female officers to strip search the woman. Her clothes were cut off and she claimed that once she was naked the officers touched her breasts and between her legs. She described the search as a "very violating and humiliating experience" and said she was left with multiple injuries and [[Post-traumatic stress disorder|PTSD]] after the incident. The woman was charged with obstructing and assaulting police but was later acquitted.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sonia Kataria |first=Greig Watson |date=25 January 2022 |title=Koshka Duff: Met apology to woman over language in strip search |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60118874 |work=BBC}}</ref>

In 2018, the officer who ordered the strip search of Dr Duff was cleared of gross misconduct charges. In November 2021, a civil claim brought against the Metropolitan Police was settled, with Dr Duff being awarded £6,000 in damages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duff |first=Koshka |date=24 January 2022 |title=The Met Just Apologised After Strip-Searching Me. I Don't Believe a Word of It |url=https://novaramedia.com/2022/01/24/the-met-just-apologised-for-strip-searching-me-i-dont-believe-a-word-of-it/ |work=Novara Media}}</ref> In January 2022, CCTV footage of the incident was made public. In the footage, the Sergeant who ordered the search can be heard telling officers to "treat her like a terrorist", while others can be heard making derogatory comments about the woman's underwear and pubic hair. After the footage was released, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson apologised for the "sexist, derogatory and unacceptable language used" by the officers involved.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gayle |first=Damien |date=25 January 2022 |title=Met apologises to woman for 'sexist, derogatory' language in strip-search |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/24/met-apologises-to-academic-for-sexist-derogatory-language |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

In March 2022, it was reported that Metropolitan Police officers had strip searched a 15-year-old black girl at her school in [[Hackney, London|Hackney]] in 2020 after she was wrongly accused of possessing [[cannabis]]. The 15-year-old, referred to as "Child Q*, was menstruating at the time and was searched without her parents present. Shortly after the story was made public, a protest involving several hundred people was held outside Stoke Newington police station, amid concerns that the girl had been targeted because of her race.<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Nadine |date=18 March 2022 |title=Child Q: Hundreds protest against "disgusting" strip search outside London police station |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/child-q-protest-london-police-b2039395.html |work=The Independent}}</ref> In September 2023, the [[Independent Office for Police Conduct|Independent Officer for Police Conduct]] (IOPC) recommended disciplinary action against four of the officers involved in the incident.<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Nadine |date=14 September 2023 |title=Child Q: Met Police officers face disciplinary action over Black teenager strip-search |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/child-q-police-strip-search-b2411347.html |work=The Independent}}</ref>

In 2023, [[Sky News]] launched an investigation into the use of strip searches by [[Greater Manchester Police]]. In a story published in July, three women alleged that they had been subjected to unjustified strip searches while in police custody. In one instance, a 38-year-old woman claimed that she was drugged and raped by officers after being arrested in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farrell |first=Jason |date=27 July 2023 |title='Stripped and left topless in a cell, I was drugged and sexually assaulted by Greater Manchester Police' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/stripped-and-left-topless-in-a-cell-i-was-drugged-and-sexually-assaulted-by-greater-manchester-police-12924141 |work=Sky News}}</ref> After the story was published, several other women contacted Sky News alleging that they had been subjected to similar searches by Greater Manchester Police and other police forces across the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farrell |first=Jason |date=27 July 2023 |title=Birmingham: Woman says she was 'strip-searched and left in police cell for 16 hours without clothing' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/birmingham-woman-says-she-was-strip-searched-and-left-in-police-cell-for-16-hours-without-clothing-12928762 |work=Sky News}}</ref> In response to the story, Greater Manchester Mayor [[Andy Burnham]] announced that former Victims Commissioner [[Vera Baird]] would conduct a formal inquiry into the treatment of women in police custody by Greater Manchester Police, with a focus on strip searches.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 July 2023 |title=Andy Burnham beefs up inquiry into GMP strip-search claims |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-66323840 |work=BBC}}</ref> A final report is due to be published in late 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ewan Gawne |first=Ethan Davies |date=6 June 2024 |title=Police strip search report delayed again |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0kkpw78yv9o |work=BBC}}</ref>