NSW police continued to justify festival strip-searches using drug dogs despite knowing 30% hit-rate, court hears

<p>Class action from more than 3,000 group members argues vast majority of strip-searches at music festivals between 2018 and 2022 were unlawful</p><ul><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>The New South Wales police force knew drug detection dogs only have a “30% hit-rate” but continued to use them as the primary justification to strip-search people at music festivals, a court has heard.</p><p>The revelation came amid closing arguments <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/05/nsw-police-told-woman-to-remove-tampon-in-strip-search-court-hears-ntwnfb">for a class action in the NSW supreme court</a>, where lawyers for the plaintiffs have argued the vast majority of strip-searches conducted by state police between 2018 and 2022 at music festivals were unlawful.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/13/nsw-police-music-festival-strip-search-class-action-drug-dog-justification-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>