Over the last 12 years, the use of strip searches by NSW police
has increased 20 fold, according to a just released report
commissioned by the Redfern Legal
Centre. In the 12 months to 30 November 2006, 277 strip
searches were conducted, whereas in the 12 months to 30 June 2018,
5,483 were.
At the report release, 19-year-old Sydneysider Lucy Moore shared
her story of being strip searched five months ago at a festival at
Olympic Park. "Many of the things that happened to me that
day," the young woman bravely told the room, "I now know
to be unlawful."
"After being left naked, scared and humiliated in front of
complete strangers, I was asked to squat and cough," Moore
continued, recalling one of the suspect aspects of the search.
Others include the door being left half open during part of the
time and officers refusing to identify themselves.
