Festival Shopkeepers Say They Were Strip Searched By Police At Splendour

Shopkeepers and staff working at the 2018 Splendour In The Grass festival were strip searched by police at the event, some of who had just returned from their lunch breaks. 

According to ABC, an inquiry by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), which is currently investigating “the strip search of an underage female at the Splendour In The Grass music festival in July 2018 by NSW Police, and strip search practices more generally”, was told shopkeepers working at the Byron Bay festival complained about police's "military-style formation" while on site. 

One solicitor who worked at the 2018 event, Tracey Randall, told the LECC that police created an "us and them" mentality between patrons and authorities. 

Of the 143 people strip searched across the weekend, Randall said staff including "store holders, people working in bars, who were handling money," were also searched. 

None were found with drugs on their person. 

It comes after a police officer working at Splendour 2018 admitted that some of the searches being conducted were "unlawful".

At the inquiry earlier in the week, both the senior constable and one of his superiors admitted that they were not aware of the legal requirements for conducting the “invasive” procedure and agreed the circumstances were “unlawful”. 

They also conceded at the event it was the “modus operandi” to strip search everyone indicated by a sniffer dog.

Splendour In The Grass organisers were unable to provide comment to The Music on Wednesday "due to this being an ongoing investigation".

The admission comes as the festival debate rages on in NSW, with the Music Festivals Bill back before the Legislative Assembly. 

Splendour In The Grass, Laneway and Falls Festival are just a few of Australia's live music events that will "consider their future in NSW" following a meeting with Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello on Monday.