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==== 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 β 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 β 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>
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