Earlier this week, NSW police passed down a heavy-handed warning for Above & Beyond fans heading out to Sydney Olympic Park this weekend. They said concert goers will be ejected if identified by drug dogs — even if no drugs are found on their person.
Now, festival goers are challenging the harsh drug dog plan, saying it’s an overreach of police powers. In fact, there’s a court injunction in place to try and stop this from happening.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell’s drug dog warning reads as follows: “Police will exclude any person from the venue that the drug dog indicates has or has recently had drugs on them, regardless of whether drugs are located. If a dog makes an indication you will be denied entry.”
NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge says this type of police strategy violates civil liberties and could even be illegal. That is exactly why three defendants are challenging this practice in court.
Shoebridge asserts on behalf of the claim: “It is not a crime to have a drug dog falsely indicate you are carrying drugs. Right now people are facing the very real prospect of having their tickets torn up because of the failed drug dog program.”
In the social media post below, he solidifies his argument with legal action — “see you in court.”
It’s official – see you in court tomorrow @nswpolice pic.twitter.com/pJ8xpQGSwo
— David Shoebridge (@ShoebridgeMLC) June 7, 2018
Source: The New Daily | Photo via Rukes.com