Under 18s strip search – do you know your legal rights?

The ongoing inquiry into Police strip searches on minors in NSW has come to an abrupt end following the sacking of chief commissioner, Michael Adams QC.

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission was expected to hold further public hearings in either late January or February 2020 however it has been recently announced that no further evidence will be called.

The highly publicised hearings brought significant scrutiny to NSW Police and questioned the legality of numerous searches often involving minors. The hearings also raised doubt on whether some members of the Police force understood the law governing strip searches.

The laws applying to strip searches are outlined in the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW) states that a police officer must suspect on reasonable grounds that the search is necessary or that the seriousness and urgency of the circumstances make the strip search necessary.

If you have any questions or concerns about an interaction you have experienced with a member of the NSW Police force, we encourage you to contact our criminal law team.

Your first appointment is free and our criminal lawyers operate 24 hours, 7 days a week.

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