Imagine heading out for a night with your friends and being met by a wall of police officers and sniffer dogs. That’s what’s happening to thousands of people across NSW.
Police and drug dogs target pubs, nightclubs, train stations and entertainment precincts every weekend. On Sydney's Oxford Street, large numbers of officers and dogs have recently flooded queer venues, sending a clear message that people are suspects simply for trying to enjoy a night out.
This heavy-handed policing is making people feel intimidated in their own city. It's hurting LGBTQIA+ spaces, damaging Sydney's nightlife, and driving people away from the very venues and precincts the Government is claiming it wants to support.
The worst part? Drug dogs were never supposed to be about targeting ordinary people. When these powers were introduced, Parliament was told they were aimed at drug dealers and suppliers. Instead, they've become a tool for stopping, searching and harassing thousands of people who are simply catching a train, attending a concert, or going out with friends.
After 25 years, it's clear the experiment has failed.
Drug dogs don’t belong on dancefloors. They’re an invasion of people's privacy, waste police resources, and have been criticised for potentially increasing drug-related harm.
That's why the Greens are introducing legislation to finally Ditch the Dogs by repealing the drug detection dog powers in NSW.