Woman told to ‘squat and cough’ by NSW Police at Lost Paradise to launch strip search class action

Becca (pictured on Wednesday) was strip searched at a music festival

A woman who was the subject of a ‘traumatising’ strip search at a music festival claims she felt dehumanised and too scared to question police authority during the ordeal.

Becca had just arrived at the 2017 Lost Paradise music festival when she was intercepted by officers, who told her she would need to be strip searched before she could head inside.

The then 22-year-old had no idea just what the process would entail, and revealed on Wednesday she was horrified when she was told to ‘drop, squat and cough’.

The British expat – who had freshly arrived in Australia – explained she was menstruating and wasn’t wearing a bra, but the female officer in charge told her she wouldn’t be allowed inside the festival unless she complied.

Becca noticed three male officers could see right into the van and raised the issue with the female officer, who said ‘we’ll just do it quickly’ in response to her concerns.

Having spent good money on a ticket and not completely aware of her legal rights in Australia, she did what they asked, but said she felt ‘extremely violated’ in the process.

During a joint press conference with Slater and Gordon lawyers on Wednesday, Becca explained how the officer ‘looked underneath me while I had a tampon in. 

She has attended a couple of festivals since Lost Paradise, but said every time she is met with anxious thoughts and doubts. 'Its not exactly the most welcoming experience... you're greeted with a row of police officers.' Pictured: Police officers at Splendour in the Grass in 2019

She has attended a couple of festivals since Lost Paradise, but said every time she is met with anxious thoughts and doubts. ‘Its not exactly the most welcoming experience… you’re greeted with a row of police officers.’ Pictured: Police officers at Splendour in the Grass in 2019

During a joint press conference with Slater and Gordon on Wednesday (pictured), Becca explained how the officer 'looked underneath me while I had a tampon in

During a joint press conference with Slater and Gordon on Wednesday (pictured), Becca explained how the officer ‘looked underneath me while I had a tampon in

Slater and Gordon, in conjunction with Redfern Legal Centre, are launching a class action against New South Wales Police for what they call excessive use of the 'invasive, harmful practice'

Slater and Gordon, in conjunction with Redfern Legal Centre, are launching a class action against New South Wales Police for what they call excessive use of the ‘invasive, harmful practice’

‘I felt extremely violated and cut off from my emotions,’ she explained. 

‘It was a really sort of out-of-body experience and felt very dehumanising. I was just my body and that’s it. Who I was, my emotions, everything, I just put a block on that and it was like a light in my brain was turned off.

‘I really disconnected until I left and that’s when all the emotions came rushing in. It was really traumatising.’ 

Slater and Gordon, in conjunction with Redfern Legal Centre, are launching a class action against New South Wales Police for what they call excessive use of the ‘invasive, harmful practice’.

They believe thousands of people may have been targeted in unlawful strip searches throughout the state. 

At present, anybody above the age of ten can legally be strip searched in NSW. 

Becca explained the ordeal gave her ‘extreme anxiety’, and has impacted her life ever since.

Becca had just arrived at the 2017 Lost Paradise festival when she was intercepted by officers, who told her she would need to be strip searched before she could head inside

Becca had just arrived at the 2017 Lost Paradise festival when she was intercepted by officers, who told her she would need to be strip searched before she could head inside

The NSW state government introduced drug amnesty bins in 2020 to encourage people to dispose of their drugs instead of consuming them

The NSW state government introduced drug amnesty bins in 2020 to encourage people to dispose of their drugs instead of consuming them

She has attended a couple of festivals since Lost Paradise, but said every time she is met with anxious thoughts and doubts.

‘Every single time before entering I get extreme anxiety,’ she said. ‘Its not exactly the most welcoming experience… you’re greeted with a row of police officers.’ 

‘I had done nothing wrong. I felt violated, like I was just another body and not a human being.’ 

Becca, who still lives in Australia, has felt a sense of distrust for the police since the encounter, and no longer feels entirely safe when she sees them in public.

In fact, seeing police officers puts her on edge.

‘I question what could happen to me even if I’m not doing anything wrong. I’ve never really felt that way before,’ she said. 

At present the law states a strip search should be used as a last resort.

But in Becca’s case, she said officers had doubts about searching her from the outset.

Slater and Gordon fear thousands of people may have been targeted in unlawful strip searches throughout the state. Pictured: Festivalgoers at Splendour in the Grass

Slater and Gordon fear thousands of people may have been targeted in unlawful strip searches throughout the state. Pictured: Festivalgoers at Splendour in the Grass

Drug dogs are also used at festivals to help police find people who may be carrying drugs

Drug dogs are also used at festivals to help police find people who may be carrying drugs

What made Becca come forward?

Becca had only been in Australia a year before attending the Lost Paradise festival, and wasn’t entirely aware of her rights regarding police and strip searches.

She was mortified upon leaving the van where the search took place, and began ‘crying uncontrollably’ after she finally made it into the festival.

She explained she dealt with those emotions by drinking alcohol at the festival, but the emotional impact lasted well beyond that day.

‘Initially, I felt extreme anxiety. I felt upset. But with reflection, I have an understanding that what happened to me was wrong,’ she said.

That understanding came after speaking with some of her Australian friends, who were horrified on her behalf.

‘They let me know that actually what had happened wasn’t right. That they shouldn’t have had to ask me to do the strip search that way,’ she said.

From there, she began hearing of and seeing stories online of other people in similar situations to her, and eventually came across the calls for a class action.

She said hearing of the potential legal support made her feel ‘encouraged’ to share her own story, and reached out to Slater and Gordon.

Becca now hopes that by speaking out, she could encourage other victims to come forward and join the class action.

She was approached by a male police officer who said she would be taken to a female to conduct the search.

‘He handed me over to a female police officer and said ”go easy on her, I don’t think she’s got anything on her”. That’s when I got really scared,’ she said. 

The law states police must have a reasonable suspicion that the person they strip search has something illegal in their possession. 

Officers must also prove the circumstances are serious and urgent enough to mandate a strip search. 

Any searches outside of these parameters could potentially have been conducted illegally, and Slater and Gordon are urging anybody who has doubts to call and share their story.

The process is confidential, and the lawyers are currently just asking for a range of cases to come forward.

'He handed me over to a female police officer and said ''go easy on her, I don't think she's got anything on her''. That's when I got really scared,' she said on Wednesday

‘He handed me over to a female police officer and said ”go easy on her, I don’t think she’s got anything on her”. That’s when I got really scared,’ she said on Wednesday

Indigenous Australians ‘disproportionately’ targeted 

Sarah Crellin, from the Aboriginal Legal Service, said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately targeted for strip searches at festivals.

On Wednesday, she told a press conference 15,000 Aboriginal people alone were searched in 2018, and in 80 per cent of the cases nothing was found.

‘We known these searches are harmful and they produce nothing in terms of a reduction of crime,’ she said.   

‘We know they are targeted by police and we would encourage them to come forward.’

Ms Crellin said people would ‘be surprised the power of the Aboriginal community in fighting for justice.’

Samantha Lee, a solicitor specialising in police powers said it might be hard for victims to determine whether a strip search conducted on them was lawful, given that the legislation surrounding searches is so vague. 

‘NSW Police don’t even know what the law is in regard to strip searches so how can someone on the ground understand the law,’ she said.

‘The law is vague, it fails to provide clear guidance to police and fails to provide much needed safeguards to members of the public.’

Ms Lee said the class action will look to offer victims damages for the harm they have endured and change current legislation around strip searches.  

‘Strip searching includes a range of behaviours. It could be a police officer looking down the top of a woman, or pulling out a man’s trousers and peering into his underwear,’ she said.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be the complete removal of all clothing.   

Anybody who feels they may have been unfairly targeted has been urged to get in contact with Slater and Gordon. 

Daily Mail Australia contacted New South Wales Police, but they chose not to comment on the class action.

Samantha Lee, a solicitor specialising in police powers said it might be hard for victims to determine whether a strip search conducted on them was lawful, given the legislation is so vague

Samantha Lee, a solicitor specialising in police powers said it might be hard for victims to determine whether a strip search conducted on them was lawful, given the legislation is so vague 

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