A Sydney woman unlawfully strip searched at a 2018 music festival has been awarded at least $93,000 in damages, in a ruling that could pave the way for thousands of others to receive compensation.
Supreme Court Justice Dina Yehia delivered the judgment on Tuesday, finding that 27‑year‑old Raya Meredith was subjected to “humiliating” treatment during the Splendour in the Grass festival in Byron Bay.
Meredith launched legal action after police ordered her to strip naked and remove a tampon during the search. She later became the lead plaintiff in a class action involving more than 3,000 people strip searched by NSW Police at music festivals between 2016 and 2022.
Her legal team previously described the ordeal as “akin to things that would happen during a sexual assault.”
The ruling not only compensates Meredith but also signals potential redress for thousands of others who allege they were unlawfully searched under similar circumstances.
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