Police using sniffer dogs are trained to carefully observe people’s behaviour and will often use this behaviour to constitute reasonable suspicion. Typical behaviour includes walking away, looking at the dog/police and taking items out of pockets.

As a general rule what you described would not be a permissible search. At the very least, the police are required to conduct the search in a way that provides reasonable privacy and as quickly as possible. The search must be done by someone of the same sex and must not take place during questioning. Consent is an important factor but each situation will be different.

Your friend can make a complaint to the Ombudsman (see their website for details) and it will be investigated.

Kate,

Officers carry an official police notebook. If you choose not to consent, ask them to record that refusal in the notebook before complying with their directions.

Mr Nice,

Customs is governed by Commonwealth Law rather than State Law so no it is not the same situation.

Louise Jardim
(This is general advice only)

Can you offer any further advice regarding this. A friend of mine was searched on Saturday night, he is a personal trainer and does not take drugs, yet the police said that the sniffer dog alerted them to him. They then made him pull his trousers down (on Oxford Street) and proceeded to grab around his testicles and such like.

They were extremely aggressive and rude.

It is clear that the Police have forgotten that they are here to serve and protect the public, not intimidate and harrass.