NSW police strip-searched more than 100 children as young as 13 in two-year period

The New South Wales police have been accused of misunderstanding their own strip-search powers after data showed officers continued to use the controversial practice on thousands of people, including children as young as 13, during the height of Covid.

Data reveals police in NSW carried out more than 4,400 strip-searches between July 2020 and May 2022, which includes a Delta-wave lockdown that lasted more than 100 days.

Released to the Redfern Legal Centre under freedom of information laws, the figures show more than 100 children were among those searched, including a 13-year-old.

It comes despite promises by police to overhaul policies around the use of strip-search powers after the release of a damning report by the law enforcement watchdog in 2021.

In NSW, police are only permitted to conduct field strip-searches if the urgency and seriousness of the situation requires it.

In the case of minors, a parent or guardian must be present, unless the search must be done immediately for the safety of the person or to prevent evidence being destroyed.

The data obtained by the RLC also showed nothing illegal was found in about 60% of searches conducted during the period.

The use of strip-search powers in NSW has been intensely scrutinised by legal groups, oversight bodies and academics in recent years. The new figures come as a class-action lawsuit against the state was launched last month alleging the unlawful use of strip-searches at music festivals.

The data also showed Indigenous Australians, particularly children, continue to be disproportionately targeted by police.