Investigation
Slater and Gordon is investigating a class action into unlawful strip searches conducted by the NSW Police on suspicion of drug possession only.
If you have been strip searched by the NSW Police in the last six years in a location other than a police station, on the basis that:
- the NSW Police thought you had illegal drugs on you; and/or
- because of an indication from a police drug detection dog,
Background
On 21 July 2022, Slater and Gordon issued a class action proceeding for people who have been unlawfully searched by NSW Police at all music festivals in NSW between 22 July 2016 and 21 July 2022.
The Supreme Court of NSW handed down its decision on 30 September 2025, with Justice Dina Yehia finding that any strip searches, undertaken outside of a Police Station and solely on suspicion of drug possession or only because of a drug dog indication, are unlawful.
Importantly, the Supreme Court of NSW ruled that strip searches conducted on this basis would be unlawful, whether or not they occurred at a music festival.
Register Your Interest
By registering your interest in this investigation below, we will provide you with updates on the progress of our investigation and any potential claim for compensation that may be available to persons affected by the alleged misconduct.
Register Your Interest Here
FAQs
Slater and Gordon is investigating the merits of a further claim against the NSW police but has not yet formally commenced any proceeding. If a class action against NSW is commenced and you have registered your interest, we will be in touch with you at that time and provide you with more information.
Register today through the above form and we’ll keep you updated as the investigation progresses. Registering is free and will not cost you anything.
At this stage, all you need to do is register your interest by filling in the above form. You have not joined a class action, you have only registered your interest. We will get in contact with you if we need additional information from you.
Once you’ve registered your interest, we will keep you up to date about any new developments in the investigation.
A class action is a type of legal proceeding in which one person, the representative plaintiff, brings a claim on behalf of a wider group of people who have been affected by the same conduct. By grouping claims together and pursuing them collectively, the overall value of the claim makes it economically worthwhile to do so, even if the value of individual claims are modest.
Slater & Gordon Limited.
We have a long and proud history of holding companies, Government Entities and other wrongdoers to account. We’ve made our name by taking on hard cases and pursuing them relentlessly to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients. Our firm ran some of the earliest class actions in Australia and has made history by achieving landmark settlements and judgments for groups affected by issues such as environmental contamination, defective medical products and financial misconduct.
We are proud of the successful outcome we have achieved in the Festival Strip Searches Class Action, which has directly led to this investigation. Many of our other cases have achieved a lasting legacy by improving corporate and governmental conduct, which in turn helps prevent harms and losses happening to others in the future.
Initially, we will only require you to provide the information requested in the registration of interest process. At a later stage, if the investigation progresses to a claim, we may get in touch with you to request further information.
You will not be exposed to any out-of-pocket costs or adverse costs orders as a result of your registering your interest.