More than 100k notices sent to NSW music festival ticket purchasers about strip search class action ahead of May 2025 trial

Festivalgoers who purchased tickets to NSW music festivals over a six-year period can expect to receive notices about their potential inclusion in a class action against police over allegedly unlawful strip searches.

The class action was filed by Slater and Gordon Lawyers and Redfern Legal Centre in July 2022 against the state of NSW on behalf of people who have allegedly been invasively and unlawfully searched by police at music festivals between 2016 and 2022.

The group proceeding alleges that police carried out unlawful acts including assault, battery and false imprisonment when searching them at the music festivals for illicit substances.

A trial has been scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025, that is expected to run for four weeks.

Slater and Gordon Class Actions Associate Jordyn Keating said the NSW Supreme Court had ordered that notices be issued to ticket purchasers who attended music festivals across the state over the six-year period covered by the proceeding.

“To date, court approved notices have been distributed to more than 100,000 people who purchased tickets for music festivals in NSW during the relevant period,” she said.

“The notice informs potential group members about the proceeding, explains how they can register their interest if they too were affected or opt out of the claim, should they not wish to be included in the class action.

“This is a standard step in the class action process as we work towards the May 2025 trial date.

“Anyone who has any questions about the class action, or their legal rights in respect of being strip searched at a music festival in NSW between 2016 and 2022, should visit Slater and Gordon’s website. The firm has a dedicated team available for inquiries related to this proceeding.”

Samantha Lee, police accountability solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre, said: “this action has the potential to hold NSW Police accountable and offer legal recourse, providing justice to hundreds of individuals who have endured invasive, often traumatic, and unlawful strip searches.”

Those interested in learning more can visit the Festival Strip Search class action page