Skip navigation

Strip searching children continues despite Minns’ review into the practice

profile image
Sue Higginson
NSW Greens MP
17 April 2024

19 March 2024 - Strip searching of children by the NSW Police and without guardians present has continued at the same rate as under the former Coalition Government despite the Minns Labor Government promising a review. Documents received under freedom of information laws reveal that the NSW Police have strip searched 26 children between 18 October 2023 and 14 February 2024.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said “The NSW Police have not materially changed their policy or protocols on the strip searching of children despite Premier Minns promising a review of the practice, that much is blatantly clear,”

“Humiliating, degrading and traumatic strip searches of children is an entirely inappropriate power for the NSW Police to have and we should be moving away from this practice fast. There are alternatives and at all times guardians must be involved,”

“Out of the 26 children, a 12 and a 13 year old were stripped and searched and 7 of the children were First Nations children. Innocent children have been stripped naked and ordered to move their genitals because either the Premier or the Police are not being genuine about their review of this practice. These are not numbers they are lives of vulnerable young people that police are etching an indelible and traumatic mark upon,”

“Premier Minns is failing to protect young people who are encountering the criminal justice system. NSW Labor should question what legacy of justice they want to leave behind, not just satisfy populist law and order policies. If they don’t start reforming the mess left by the Coalition, they will leave behind nothing but more traumatised children and broken lives,” Ms Higginson said.

profile image
Sue Higginson
NSW Greens MP
17 April 2024
SHARE:

THE LATEST NEWS

Forestry Corporation caught out changing sustainability report

The NSW Forestry Corporation has been discovered amending three years of sustainability reports, dramatically reducing the reported yield from native forest logging since 2021. The changed data forms part of legally required reports by the State Owned Forestry Corporation and represents a 28% decline in reported yield across NSW. The...

80% of young people refused bail is a poor test for reducing crime

The Minns Labor Government has announced that temporary youth bail law changes will be extended from 12 months to 4 years, with data showing 80% of young people charged with certain offences have been refused bail since March last year. The youth bail law changes were opposed by civil society...

Police chase teenagers into wave of Critical Incidents in Northern NSW

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has today declared it is monitoring a second Critical Incident following the police pursuit of multiple minors. Both pursuits, which occurred on 25 January in Casino and 28 January in Gunnedah, involved the police pursuit of stolen vehicles by minors. In Casino, a 13-year-old boy...

Filming an employee's genitals "unprofessional" but not "criminal", NSW Police

A NSW Police sergeant received only a warning and a transfer to another command after filming a colleague's genitals and posting the footage to a group chat in November 2023. A complaint of serious bullying and misconduct was made to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) who referred the complaint...


CAMPAIGNS