Following the introduction of a controversial law in 2001, New South Wales Police were given the power to deploy specially trained drug detection dogs at major public events, licensed venues and on selected routes across Sydney's public transport network. In 2006, a report published by the New South Wales Ombudsman found that these were significant issues with the way drug detection dogs were being used by NSW Police, including civil liberties concerns, false positives, and low rates of accuracy. At the time of the report's publication, most people stopped by the dogs had either been subjected to pat down search or a search of their belongings. The report mentioned cases of strip searches being conducted, however the Ombudsman noted that such incidents were rare at the time.

In late 2014, several stories were published alleging that NSW Police had routinely begun using indications from drug detection dogs as a justification for conducting strip searches. Since that time, there has been sporadic coverage of the issue through various news reports. Several firsthand accounts have been published on social media as well.

2006 June – The New South Wales Ombudsman publishes a comprehensive review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Dogs) Act 2001, legislation giving NSW Police the power to deploy specially trained drug detection dogs at large scale public events, licensed venues and on selected routes across Sydney's public transport network. Figures included in the report revealed that during a two-year review period between February 2002 and February 2004, officers had conducted just over 10,000 personal searches resulting from positive drug detection dog indications. Most of those searches were recorded as being either been a pat down search or a search of a person's belongings, however the report noted some cases of officers performing strip searches as well. The report mentioned two incidents which had been observed by the Ombudsman's office, one involving a woman who had been stopped inside a pub and another involving a man who had been stopped at a train station. In both of those cases, drugs and drug paraphernalia had been found before a strip search was conducted.

In another incident, a complaint had been made after a man had allegedly stopped by a drug detection dog twice within the space of a one-and-a-half-hour period. On the second occasion, the man said he had voluntarily accompanied officers to a police station where he had been "subjected to the humiliation of a strip search". It was alleged that one of the officers had suggested to the man that he "might have sat next to someone on a train or bus that had been smoking cannabis" after no drugs were found during the search. The report also mentioned another case which had been recorded on the police database. In that instance, a commuter had reportedly been strip searched inside a public toilet at a train station after an indication from a drug detection dog. The man had reportedly been allowed to leave after no drugs were found during the search.

2009 February – The New South Wales Ombudsman publishes a final review of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, the legislation governing the powers given to police in New South Wales.New South Wales Ombudsman. Review of certain functions conferred on police under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002. (Report, February 2009), Foreword One key aspect of the review were safeguards in relation to personal searches conducted by NSW Police.Review of certain functions conferred on police under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 Pg. i A number of case studies were referred to in the report, including one incident involving a drug detection dog operation which had been monitored by the Ombudsman's office. A summary of that incident read: "We observed frisk and ordinary searches performed on people attending a youth event who were indicated by a drug detection dog as they moved from the train station to the venue. On this occasion, police set up a number of tents, which provided six separate spaces in which searches could be conducted and advised us that this had been done to provide people with a level of privacy. Once an indication had been made, two police officers were introduced and the person was taken to a tent where the search was conducted. While we only observed frisk and ordinary searches, strip searches were also performed in the tents. We did not observe any searches outside the tents".Review of certain functions conferred on police under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 Pg. 87

2010 January 25 – Writing on Reddit, a commuter recalled being strip searched by police at Redfern Train Station after being stopped by a drug detection dog on his way home from work. After initially being patted down and having his belongings searched, the man said he was escorted to a public toilet by three officers, who had allegedly asked him to remove his clothes before instructing him to turn around, "bend over" and pull his buttocks apart. No drugs were found during the search, though the man admitted that he occasionally smoked cannabis. Writing in the comments he said, "I don't know... I might be wrong but what happened doesn't feel right".anotherrandom. So I got strip searched on the way home from work because of a sniffer dog and it got me thinking. Reddit, 15 January 2010, Retrieved 10 November 2021

2012 January 25 – The Hack program on Triple J broadcasts a half hour special discussing the use of drug detection dogs at music festivals in New South Wales and other Australian states. The program heard from a number of callers who were searched by police in the aftermath of a positive drug detection dog indication, including some who were strip searched. Many of the callers had admitted to being in possession of small quantities of drugs when they were stopped by police.Triple J Hack (ABC). Sniffer Dog Special. 25 January 2012 [Audio File] ()

2013 March 7 – A 53-year-old man tells news.com.au that he had been strip searched while attending a Mardi Gras afterparty event at the Royal Botanical Gardens. The man said he had been stopped by a drug detection dog at the entrance of the event while picking up tickets for a friend. After being taken to a police search area, it's alleged that he was patted down before being told to drop his pants and underwear. The 53-year-old recalled that there was a gap in the tarpaulin covering the area where search was taking place, leaving him exposed to onlookers while this was happening. "They could see] my bare butt," he told news.com.au. "I was not comfortable with that at all". No drugs were reportedly found during the search. Speaking about the incident, the 53-year-old said "It's a complete abuse of their powers ... I feel embarrassed and humiliated."Daniel Piotrowski. Man 'forced to strip naked' at Mardi Gras event. news.com.au, 7 March 2013 The man had subsequently launched legal action against New South Wales Police, with the matter later being settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.Obriens Solicitors. GL v State of NSW: Assault, battery, false imprisonment. (Date not recorded) The incident was one of dozens of alleged cases of police misconduct which had reportedly taken place at the 2013 Mardi Gras Parade and subsequent afterparty celebrations.acon. Policing at NSW Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) Events and Venues. (Report, September 2013) Pg. 5

2014 October 10 – An article published by Vice reports that NSW Police have routinely been using drug detection dog indications as a justification for conducting strip searches, particularly at large scale events such as music festivals. In one instance, a 24-year-old man said he had been strip searched while volunteering at the Stereosonic music festival in 2013. The man had reportedly been stopped by a drug detection dog at the entrance of the event. "They took me into a little tent. I took off all my clothes. They're like, 'You don't have anything'" the 24-year-old recalled. "It was really humiliating. The fact that they didn't apologise was ridiculous and they were so aggressive with their questioning". In another instance, a 23-year-old student alleged that he had been strip searched three times over the past three years, twice at music festivals and once at King's Cross Train Station. On each occasion, he said he was in possession of a small amount of cannabis, which he claimed he had handed over to officers before the searches took place. In each instance, he was reportedly asked to remove his clothes, turn his back to police and squat. "It happens at festivals all the time. They've got booths set up to strip search you. It's basically a known thing that where there's sniffer dogs, they'll be strip searches as well" he said.

The article also featured an account from a 39-year-old man who had allegedly been strip searched at the 2012 Mardi Gras Toy Box party after being stopped by a drug detection dog. The man said he had informed officers he was in possession of ketamine before the search was conducted. "I was taken down into the holding pen. It was a fenced off area, with black plastic around chicken wire fencing. I was basically told to strip down. It was very intimidating, because I had these three cops in my face. I was basically bare-naked". Speaking about the issue, drug educator Paul Dillon, Director of Drug and Alcohol Training and Research Australia (DARTA) said: "I can remember one girl who was totally traumatised by the experience" ... "She'd been strip searched and was mortified. The girl had no drugs on her, was not a drug user, but had been through a very traumatic experience. That event got me to question... is the benefit worth the potential risks to people who have no contact with drugs?"

December 2 – The Sydney Morning Herald reports that strip searches following drug detection dog indications have risen 32% since 2009. An article titled "Police in the Doghouse over Strip Searches" featured firsthand accounts from two men who had allegedly been strip searched by police after being stopped during separate drug detection dog operations. Both men said they had admitted to being in possession of illicit substances before being searched. One man had reportedly been issued with a cannabis caution.

December 2 – Speaking to The Project, a 24-year-old commuter said he had been strip searched by police at Redfern Train Station after an indication from a drug detection dog. The man said he was on his way home when he was approached by four police officers who claimed they had seen him throw something into a rubbish bin. The 24-year-old said he had been speaking with the officers for several minutes before the dog sat down beside him. It's alleged that he was initially subjected to a pat down search in view of other commuters before having his belongings emptied out onto the ground. At the conclusion of this search, the 24-year-old recalled asking the officers, "Do you feel anything for the embarrassment you might have caused me in this public space?", stating that one replied, "You should be glad that we're keeping you safe". It's alleged that he was then taken to a private area where a strip search was conducted. "Well basically they just take all of your clothes off, they strip you down" ... "it's quite a degrading process" the 24-year-old said. "You actually get told to squat and you actually get told to cough". Speaking about the incident, he told presenters that, "I remember a quote somewhere, laws become unjust when they start to effect people that they weren't written to effect" ... "I think that's definitely the case with these laws".The Project (Network 10). False Positives. 2 December 2014 [Video File]

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