Victims of unlawful strip searches urged to come forward after woman wins $93k over ‘traumatising’ search

Victims of potentially unlawful strip searches are being urged to come forward as an investigation is expanded after a woman was awarded $93,000 for a “traumatising” examination at a festival. Raya Meredith was asked to remove her tampon, lift and expose her body parts and bend over during a strip search at the Splendour In The Grass music festival in July 2018. A male officer also walked into the cubicle while Ms Meredith was naked and bending over during the strip search, a court was told. No drugs were found. The NSW Supreme Court awarded Ms Meredith $93,000 on October 1 following a class action by Slater and Gordon. The law firm has now set its sights on investigating other potential unlawful strip searches by NSW Police outside of music festivals following Ms Meredith’s success. Train stations and licensed venues were among other places the law firm was investigating as part of a potential second class action into unlawful strip searches, Slater and Gordon senior associate in class actions William Zerno confirmed. The parameters of the investigation are still being determined; however, lawyers are looking for those who were subjected to strip searches on the basis of suspicion of drug possession in areas other than police stations. “(It) really covers anywhere in locations other than in police custody or police stations, so obviously that covers festivals outside of the claim period of the first class action … but it also covers anywhere really in public where searches were undertaken,” Mr Zerno told NewsWire. “We don’t have an exhaustive list of where these have been taking place … that’s why we welcome people to come forward to tell us what their experiences were.” The new investigation follows the Supreme Court’s ruling that strip searches are unlawful if they are based on the mere suspicion of drug possession or a sniffer dog indication. To date, 3000 people have joined Ms Meredith in the original class action, which was launched on behalf of those who were strip searched at music festivals from 2016-2022. “We have a judgment here that has significant implications as to the lawfulness of those people’s searches,” Mr Zerno said of the original class action. He said the Supreme Court’s findings were “very strong”, and the firm hoped to get “justice” for the remaining 3000 people involved in the claim. “This decision did not award damages to those remaining people … but what we are hoping to do now is to engage meaningfully with the defendant,” Mr Zerno said. Ms Meredith earlier said the “inhumane treatment” she was subjected to by police at the 2018 festival would likely stick with her forever. “I am but one of many whose unfortunate experience at the hands of NSW law enforcement will haunt,” Ms Meredith said in a statement following the judgment. “I can say with absolute honesty that I am glad it’s over. It’s been harrowing and traumatising, yet at the same time I am incredibly proud of myself and my bravery and the bravery of those whose voices back my own with their stories and experiences. “I sincerely hope that this case brings an end to the practice of unlawful strip searches and in the future police powers are only used in the circumstances intended by parliament.” Ms Meredith had been tapped on the shoulder for the search by an officer after a drug-detection dog sniffed in her direction but walked on. Justice Dina Yehia found that Ms Meredith’s search did not satisfy the criteria under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act that must be met before a strip search is deemed lawful. This includes that police hold a suspicion on reasonable grounds, the search is necessary and the circumstances are “serious and urgent”.