On Monday night a forum was held in Redfern, which Fairfax Media has revealed people are 6.5 times more likely to be searched. Greens candidate Jenny Leong said if elected she would introduce legislation to shut down sniffer dog use in the general population. The practice of naked searches after sniffer dog identification has increased by 32 per cent over the past five years, the data shows, despite the NSW Police Force Code of Practice stating that such searches should occur only if "the seriousness and urgency of the situation require" them. Greens MP David Shoebridge said up to 500 innocent people each year were being subject to the "humiliating" naked searches. "Where have we got to in this state when police are routinely stripping people down, getting them to squat naked over a mirror and then staring up their backsides, on the basis of a drug dog indication that is wrong two thirds of the time?" He said the inaccuracy of the program, the violations of civil liberties and inappropriate targeting of vulnerable people meant it should be stopped.

"Police and politicians like drug dog operations because there is the appearance something is being done," he said. "It's PR, not policing." Two people who had been strip searched by police who spoke to Fairfax Media on the condition of anonymity said they had already admitted to having drugs but were strip-searched anyway. James, a 23 year old student, said: "They take you into a room and make you squat down to make sure you aren't hiding anything." "It's pretty invasive, embarrassing and uncomfortable". James was not charged but was given a cannabis caution, which counsels users about the health and legal consequences of drug use.

Another, Marty, 43, said he was not made to squat but felt very intimidated, as he was surrounded by three officers with dogs before being forced to take his clothes off. Will Tregoning from harm reduction group Unharm said the searches sometimes appeared to be used as a form of punishment or revenge. "They aren't able to find many people with drugs so they are increasing the intrusiveness of the search". He said they also damaged the relationships of a huge group of young people with the police, with 50 per cent of people in their 20s having used illicit drugs and 60 per cent of people in their 30s. A spokesman for the NSW Police said it was incorrect to say the dog program was inaccurate, as 80 per cent of identifications involved either the person carrying drugs or admitting past contact with them.

Loading He said officer observations combined with the dog's indication provided reasonable grounds for a search, but police did not conduct "cavity searches", which would be carried out by medical staff in hospitals or medical facilities. "The devastating health impacts of illegal drugs are undeniable," he said. "Just last weekend, a number of patrons at the Stereosonic music festival were taken to hospital for the effects of illegal drugs."