The Daily Aus The call to end police strip searches
Jul 28, 2025
A recent report reveals that over 86% of police strip searches in New South Wales found no illegal substances, raising concerns about their legality and implications. The podcast delves into the troubling rise of strip searches, especially at events, and their disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups. It also critiques the use of drug detection dogs, revealing low effectiveness in finding contraband. Listeners learn about their rights and the ongoing legal challenges against police practices, spotlighting urgent calls for reform in these invasive procedures.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Most Strip Searches Find Nothing
- Over 86% of more than 82,000 NSW police strip searches from 2014-2023 found no illicit substances.
- Most searches are invasive without leading to discoveries or charges, highlighting a significant inefficiency.
What Counts as a Strip Search?
- A strip search in NSW legally requires removal of all clothes and examination of the body excluding body cavities.
- Even partial clothing removal like lifting a shirt or pulling waistband counts as a strip search.
Strict Legal Requirements for Strip Searches
- NSW laws require police to have reasonable grounds and urgency to conduct strip searches outside police stations.
- Searches must be performed with the least invasiveness and in a place providing reasonable privacy.