Over 100k Invited to Class Action Lawsuit After “Invasive” Strip-Searches at Australian Music Festivals
Over 100,000 people have been invited to participate in a landmark class action lawsuit stemming from controversial strip-searches at various music festivals in New South Wales, Lawyers Weekly reports.
The suit was jointly filed in the Supreme Court of New South Wales back in July 2022 by Redfern Legal Centre and Slater and Gordon Lawyers, whose representatives are challenging the legality of strip-searches conducted by NSW law enforcement officers at various festivals between 2016 and 2022.
According to a press release issued at the time by Redfern Legal Centre, police carried out "unlawful acts including assault, battery and false imprisonment against festivalgoers while searching them for illicit substances," including minors. Some attendees, the firm said, alleged they were directed by officers "to lift or remove items of clothing, lift their breasts or genitals, or strip naked and squat and cough so officers could visually inspect body cavities."
The lawsuit's lead plaintiff, Raya Meredith, claimed she was subjected to an "invasive" strip-search by the NSW Police Force at the 2018 Splendour in the Grass music festival. The ordeal lasted roughly 30 minutes, she told Redfern Legal Centre.
"Our investigations show that invasive and unlawful police searches at NSW festivals have become routine, resulting in very few charges, but leaving thousands of young people and minors humiliated and severely traumatized," said Redfern's senior police accountability solicitor, Samantha Lee.
Legal representatives from the NSW government had unsuccessfully filed motions to dismiss the suit, citing insufficient common issues among those who were strip-searched, according to Australasian Lawyer.
"The police are supposed to be there to keep people safe. But I was left feeling I could no longer trust the police," said one attendee, Becca, per Slater and Gordon's website. "I felt I had no way of making a complaint about an experience which left me feeling violated."
"I was asked to take off my jacket and shirt and was patted down," explained another, Ben. "The officer also ran his thumb around the inside waistband of my underpants—his thumb was between my underpants and my skin. I just did what I was told at the time but thinking about it now makes me feel really uncomfortable."
The prosecuting firms have encouraged potential plaintiffs to register for the class action suit and gauge their eligibility via a group member guide. The trial is scheduled to begin on May 5th, 2025.
