Pubdate: Sun, 09 Dec 2001 Source: Daily News, The (CN NS) Copyright: 2001 The Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/halifax/dailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/179 POLICE GET TICKET ON STRIP SEARCHES Two young metro women whose complaint about a Halifax Regional Police strip search during a rave drug raid was thrown out by the Nova Scotia Police Commission may have found support at a much higher level -- the Supreme Court of Canada. The dance club staffers, who were never charged, were searched under a general warrant, apparently based on poor information, and, despite much public indignation about the way they were treated, the commission found it justified. It seems the police should be having second thoughts. In the Supreme Court ruling, a much clearer justification for a police strip search in a restaurant was struck down because of a lack of clear rules on an "intrusive search" (interfering) "with individual freedom and dignity." And this involved a handcuffed Toronto cocaine dealer who had been observed trafficking and did indeed have drugs found in a strip search. The court's 5-4 decision, which struck down a conviction, said strip searches should be done at a police station. In that case, however welcome to civil liberty advocates, the objection was not to strip searches, but to the unreasonable application of police powers. This should open a door for a court appeal by the Halifax pair, if they wish to pursue it. In any case, the Supreme Court has given fair warning to police departments to set up procedures that are both reasonable and don't lead to real suspects going free when guilt appears so evident. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth