Several people who say they were unlawfully strip searched for drugs are considering legal action, as a new campaign is launched to prevent the procedure at music festivals this summer.

The Redfern Legal Centre in Sydney told Hack a number of people have been traumatised by strip searches by police over the past couple of months.

"Worst of all, nothing has been found at the end of the search and we've found police have not followed correct procedure," lawyer at the centre's police accountability practice, Sam Lee said.

"In matters that we've had at Redfern Legal Centre, police have not followed the correct procedure.

"That's why we're calling for the law to be changed so there are better safeguards for the public but also better guidelines for police on how and when to conduct a strip search."

Sam said one of her clients was strip searched in a cubicle by two female police officers at a festival despite there being no indication she had drugs on her.

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Whatsapp Police with sniffer dogs search patrons before entry into the Stereosonic music festival at Melbourne Showgrounds on December 5, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia.

"The dog didn't sit down and indicate [positively for drugs] but the person was escorted to a cubicle and searched," she said.

"There was a table, they asked her to put her hands on the table, they then searched her bag, they then asked her to remove all of her clothing.

"They then inspected her body and continued questioning her while being strip searched.

At the end of this process, nothing was found on her but she was then escorted off the premises and her ticket was confiscated.

Police drug search policy was intensified in 2018

In June, NSW Police announced a new sniffer dog approach where people were refused entry if a drug dog indicated they had substances on them.

That was even in cases when they couldn't find anything after a search.

The strategy - described by many as heavy handed - was used at festivals like Above and Beyond and Defqon 1.

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NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge also released statistics showing strip searches in the state nearly doubled from 2016 to 2017.

In the first half of 2018, there were 735 strip searches while there were only 590 in the whole of 2016.

Police say they won't apologise for cracking down on drug use

In a statement to Hack, a NSW Police spokeswoman said police won't tolerate any behaviour that "puts other people at risk" ahead of the festival season.

"We make no apologies for cracking down on drug use and supply at these types of events," she said.

"The bottom line is these drugs are illegal and it's our job to uphold the law.

"The possession or supply of prohibited drugs is a serious criminal offence. Those thinking of bringing substances into events are reminded there will be overt and covert police patrolling the festival."

The statement said officers are allowed to conduct strip searches in many circumstances including in cases where they might suspect someone is in possession of a drug.

What should I do if I'm being searched for drugs?

Redfern Legal Centre's Sam Lee said it's important for people to know their rights if they're being searched.

They can be found at this new website or on the 'Music Festivals Rights Advisor' app.

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Whatsapp Above & Beyond perform in San Francisco.

"My advice is to... let them know that police need reasonable grounds to conduct a strip search" she said.

"A strip search is not an ordinary search it should be an exceptional circumstance.

If a strip search is requested it should be noted that you don't consent and noted in the police notebooks of your disapproval of that process.

Sam said it's also important to be as cooperative as possible and to get the names and stations of the police officers conducting the strip search.

"I think everyone wants young people to be safe and there are police who do want this," she said.

"However, the process they're using to achieve that goal is harming people in the process."

Sam called for the law around strip searches to be changed.

"The problem we have in NSW is the law governing strip searches is quite vague and legalistic making it quite wide to interpretation by police," she said.

"Which is why the laws and procedures around strip searches need to change."