Key Facts

• Raya Meredith was strip-searched in 2018 at the Splendour in the Grass music festival in Byron Bay while 27 years old and postpartum.
• Police illegally strip-searched her by making her remove clothes, bend over, and remove a tampon; a male officer entered during the search.
• No drugs or illegal items were found during the search.
• Meredith was awarded a total of $93,000 in damages, including $20,000 for aggravated damages related to police conduct.
• The state admitted to unlawfully strip-searching Meredith and withdrew most of its witnesses before the trial.
• The state is appealing the court’s decision, arguing the damages were wrongly awarded and that police may use reasonable force to move body parts during searches.
• The case centers on NSW’s Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibilities Act (Lepra), which restricts when and how strip-searches are conducted.
• The court recognized Meredith’s reasonable belief that police would accuse her of lying, which influenced the aggravated damages award.