High School Strip Search Case goes to Supreme Court

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

They can do whatever they like looking for whatever illegal contraband they might think I have. I have nothing to hide.

Out of interest, have you ever had your house searched by the police?


One of my closest friends was busted by the police (drug squad) on the basis of a 'malicious informant'. They found nothing; there was nothing to find. But they seriously broke the fuck out of his door. And they threw his things about with total disregard. Dragged out his drawers, emptied shit onto the floor. Went through his dirty laundry basket. Pulled the backs off his speakers (common place to hide stuff), went through the bins outside, everywhere, looking for evidence of cultivation or possession.

He wasn't in at the time. He arrived back at his house to find them just finished. They gave him a form to sign and apologised for the inconvenience and off they went. Having ransacked his house, busted the door, dismantled his speakers, rifled through his personal possessions and thrown his stuff on the floor. Having nothing to hide doesn't in any way protect you from having your privacy violated. An enforced search is an enforced search. It happens without warning, and for those who are searched it's often quite a shocking experience.

In theory, there needs to be more than one thing pointing to a suspect for a search to go ahead; but my friend had the (mis)fortune to live on a block where people had been known to grow. His address was the second factor.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Out of interest, have you ever had your house searched by the police?

I don't know about the rest of them, but a cop I know enjoys this aspect of his job immensely. It's a big joke (about the state he'll leave it in) whenever someone sends him in the house to look for something.

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Out of interest, have you ever had your house searched by the police?

No, but I've had the house trashed by thieves. I don't think there's a whole lot of difference.

I was once reported for living in a defacto relationship (with Daryl) while getting student allowance and other benefits, by some anonymous person. This was a big problem because at the time I wasn't actually living with Daryl, and our relationship wasn't such that I could ask him to help financially while it was sorted out. Never the less, the authorities took the word of some 'informant' over mine for a period of time.

While it was a problem for me, ultimately I am not complaining because so many people actually do rort the system and need to be disconnected.

This goes to my belief that in some circumstances it's better to be safe than sorry.