Skip navigation

End Strip Searching. Decriminalise Drugs

profile image
Cate Faehrmann
NSW Greens MP
22 August 2019

It’s time for heavy-handed police tactics like strip searching to be consigned to history and all drugs decriminalised for personal use, says Greens MP and drug law reform spokesperson Cate Faehrmann.

A report released today by Redfern Legal Centre and the University of NSW shows 91 percent of strip searches are carried out on suspicion of drug possession, while just 27 percent find any illicit substance. 

“Strip searches are an incredibly distressing experience. Police get it wrong more often than not, with the majority of people being strip searched not even found to be in possession of any illicit substance,” said Greens MP and drug law reform spokesperson Cate Faehrmann.

“Strip searches unfairly target younger people going out or using public transport, while the evidence is clear that most illegal drug consumption takes place in the privacy of people’s homes.

“This harassment of people who are posing no harm to others is a huge drain on police resources and it’s not stopping people using drugs. 

“A huge number of people choose to use drugs recreationally, regardless of whether they are legal or not. That’s never going to change regardless of how hard the police clamp down. 

“It’s time we decriminalised personal drug use. This means that a person found in possession of a small amount of drugs is not charged or sent to court. They are given counselling or treatment if they need it. 

“Decriminalising drugs would free up a huge amount of police and court resources saving millions of dollars each year, which could be diverted into alcohol and other drug harm reduction services,” said Ms Faehrmann.

 

Contact: Ben Cronly, 0487 247 960

profile image
Cate Faehrmann
NSW Greens MP
22 August 2019
SHARE:

THE LATEST NEWS

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens introduce Pill Testing Bill in NSW Upper House

Greens MP and spokesperson for drug harm reduction, Cate Faehrmann, has introduced legislation that would allow a trial of pill testing at music festivals and a fixed site across New South Wales in the Upper House today.

PARLIAMENT

Pill Testing Trial Bill 2023 Second Read Speech

I’m very proud to introduce the Greens Pill Testing Trial Bill 2023 as the Greens drug law reform and harm reduction spokesperson.

MEDIA RELEASE

ClubGRANTS Scheme Doing More Harm than Good and Should be Scrapped: Greens

The release of ClubGRANTS data has exposed the controversial scheme as little more than a cover that clubs hide behind when facing criticism of the negative impacts pokies cause local communities and is more proof the scheme should be scrapped, said Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and gambling harm reduction spokesperson....

MEDIA RELEASE

Latest sniffer dogs data more proof the program must be scrapped

NSW Greens MP and drug law reform spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has renewed calls to scrap the expensive drug detection dog program after uncovering data showing a $46 million price tag over the last decade, with only one in four of the nearly 95,000 people searched being found with drugs on...


CAMPAIGNS