NSW Government to Pay $93,000 in Damages for Illegal Strip Search at Splendour In The Grass
The New South Wales (NSW) government has been ordered to pay $93,000 in damages to a Sydney woman who was subjected to an illegal strip search at the Splendour In The Grass festival in 2018. The ruling comes after the government admitted that NSW Police acted unlawfully towards the woman, Raya Meredith.
Supreme Court Ruling Details
Supreme Court Justice Dina Yehia delivered her ruling on September 30th, finding that Raya Meredith, then 27 and post-partum, endured "humiliating" treatment from NSW Police before even entering the 2018 music festival. Meredith launched the case after an officer allegedly asked her to remove a tampon while she was naked during the strip search.
Meredith's Reaction and Legal Implications
Meredith expressed relief that the case is over, describing the ordeal as “harrowing and traumatising,” but also shared her pride in speaking out about her experience. The compensation includes “aggravated damages for assault, battery and false imprisonment” related to the handling of the case.
Class Action Lawsuit Against NSW Police
Raya Meredith is also the lead plaintiff in a class action suit involving approximately 3,000 people who allege illegal strip searches by NSW Police at music festivals between 2016 and 2022. The class action, led by the Redfern Legal Centre and Slater & Gordon, alleges that NSW Police committed “unlawful acts including assault, battery and false imprisonment.”
Potential for Millions in Damages
If the class action is successful, the NSW Government could be forced to pay “millions” in damages. William Zerno, Senior Associate at Slater & Gordon, believes the ruling in Meredith’s case “could render thousands of strip searches unlawful,” suggesting that many individuals share similar experiences.
“We’re urging the state to bring this shameful chapter of police abuses to an end and negotiate a settlement for the remainder of the group,” said William Zerno.
Scale of Strip Searches by NSW Police
Reports from August 2022 revealed that NSW Police strip-searched over 100 children and 4,400 adults in a two-year period, with some children as young as thirteen. This highlights the extent of the practice that is now facing increased scrutiny.
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