Officer admits error in strip-search form
A police officer involved in strip-searching a 16-year-old girl who was left feeling "humiliated" at a NSW music festival has admitted there was no sense of urgency or seriousness to justify the procedure.
The senior constable, identified only as BR3, on Tuesday also admitted he made an error in the official paperwork which he "rushed" after the search at the Splendour in the Grass music festival north of Byron Bay in July 2018.
The state's Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is looking into a complaint that the teenager was searched after a false positive detection by a sniffer dog at the entrance to the festival.
The commission has been told NSW Police did not contact the 16-year-old's parents or another responsible adult before the search despite being legally obliged to do so.
BR3 was part of the overall search process although a female colleague conducted the strip-search in private in a tent.
The inquiry on Monday heard the teenager - who can't be identified - felt "completely humiliated" when she was ordered to take all of her clothes off and squat.
BR3 on Tuesday said he had "absolutely no memory" of the incident but he was questioned about compulsory paperwork he filled out afterwards.
The hearing was told the officer had written on the form that the girl had admitted to recently using cannabis when it should have said she'd been around others who'd used cannabis.
BR3 said he had made "an error" in recording that detail incorrectly.
Chief Commissioner Michael Adams QC said: "You were obviously very careless, weren't you?"
The officer replied: "In relation to that, yes."
On the decision to strip-search the girl in the first place, BR3 admitted that with hindsight there had not been the appropriate suspicion to indicate she'd been carrying drugs.
Mr Adams said: "There was nothing about the circumstances themselves which suggested any urgency or seriousness (as required by law) ... is that so?" The officer agreed.
The hearing held in Sydney continues.
