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Landmark strip search judgment: UNSW legal expert available

UNSW Sydney

Key Facts:

Dr Vicki Sentas: 

[email protected]

 

• NSW Supreme Court Justice Dina Yehia to hand down judgment TODAY 10AM
• First class action of its kind in Australia to challenge police strip searches
• UNSW law academic Dr Vicki Sentas available for comment

This morning, the NSW Supreme Court will deliver a landmark judgment in a class action brought by more than 3,000 people against NSW Police over strip searches at music festivals.

 

The NSW Police Force has admitted unlawfully strip searching the lead plaintiff, but the judgment will go further - clarifying when police can legally perform a strip search and whether compensation is owed to thousands.

 

The ruling will shape how police powers are exercised, making it a critical moment for public accountability, civil rights and justice.

 

UNSW’s Associate Professor Vicki Sentas is an expert in criminal law and police powers. She co-authored the 2019 research report Rethinking Strip Searches by NSW Police.

 

Dr Sentas is available for interviews once the judgment is handed down.

Contact details:

Ashleigh Steele, UNSW Communications Officer

+61 421 308 805 or [email protected]