The ultimate humiliation routine: Pictures of police ordering train passengers to strip on the platform sparks outrage on social media
- NSW Police were photographed strip searching people in at Central Station
- One person took a photo of a privacy screen set up on the platform
- People singled out by sniffer dogs were forced to strip behind the screen
- Images of the searches angered many with some stating NSW is a ‘nanny state’
NSW Police were pictured ordering train passengers at Sydney’s Central Station to strip on the platform.
Several police officers set up privacy screens at 5.50pm on Friday and told people to strip naked behind them if they were singled out by sniffer dogs.
Images of the strip search were uploaded to the Sniff Off Facebook page with many commenters furious with the actions of what some described as a ‘nanny state.’
The picture of the strip search was captioned: ‘This seems to have become the NSW Police Force’s weekly humiliation routine.’
Several police officers set up privacy screens at 5.50pm on Friday and told people to strip naked behind them if they were singled out by sniffer dogs
Three police officers, one holding a dog’s lead, were pictured near platform six as commuters of varying ages can be seen walking between them.
The make-shift privacy screen is set up near the officers.
Many commenters were angry at the NSW Police and believe they should not be allowed to conduct strip searches in public.
‘The world is starting to become aware of the unusual nanny state laws that exist in Sydney compared to other western countries,’ one person said.
‘Very soon, international tourists will simply stay away, or visit for one day before moving on to Melbourne for a longer stay.’
Another said, ‘Australia has a constitution and this should be used to establish an investigation and challenge to this and many other laws and policies that have been eroding Australian citizens rights.’
‘I think it’s time to protest and take to the streets. We have to send a message this level of police intimidation is unwarranted and unnecessary,’ another commenter demanded.
A commenter said, ‘Strip searching people at night in the middle of winter adds another layer of insult to injury.’
Images of the strip search were uploaded to the Sniff Off Facebook page with many commenters furious with the actions of what some described as a ‘nanny state’
An NSW Police spokesperson said officers do not enjoy strip searches but they are legal for them to conduct.
‘NSWPF is responsible for enforcing legislation on drug and weapon possession and supply,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Police officers do not enjoy carrying out strip searches but it is a power that has been entrusted to us and in about one-third of field searches that police undertake, we will find drugs.
‘A majority of all searches conducted by NSW police are not ‘strip searches,’ but regular searches for weapons and other illegal items.
‘Strip searches are authorised under the provisions of Section 31 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities Act) which requires officers to act on reasonable grounds only when necessary, with dignity and respect for privacy.’
An NSW Police spokesperson said officers do not enjoy strip searches but they are legal for them to conduct (stock image)