THE treatment of a Sydney woman who was strip-searched and left naked in an Albury police station cell was illegal and demeaning, a barrister claimed in Albury Local Court yesterday.
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Sydney barrister Charles Waterstreet is seeking the closed circuit footage of the detained Sarah Reeves after her arrest for alleged assault and resisting arrest offences.
He applied for the footage before the start of a two-day defended hearing.
Reeves, 25, of Sydney, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assaulting police, two counts of resisting arrest, failing to leave licensed premises, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and malicious damage.
There was evidence yesterday of her being held face-down in a cell while tight-fitting jeans were removed for police to check the contents after drugs had allegedly been found in her bags.
She was left in a bra and panties, with police leaving her jeans in the cell after the search.
But a short time later all her clothes were removed and she remained naked for a long period of time before being given a court attendance notice and released about 7.10am on August 14.
Mr Waterstreet asked police officer Sen-Constable Ben Warchow yesterday whether Reeves had been treated with dignity and his response was: “As best we could.”
Police prosecutor Sen-Constable Paul Keane said he had been instructed not to provide the footage.
His objection was based on relevance with nothing hinging on what happened after 5am.
Mr Waterstreet claimed the arrest of Reeves was illegal, she was naked from 5am, began bleeding on the floor of a cell and buzzed for assistance.
He contends her treatment was contrary to the Law Enforcement Police Responsibilities Act and demeaning to say the least.
Magistrate Geoff Hiatt was told Reeves was refused service at the New Albury through her level of intoxication, became involved in an argument with the manager and was subsequently asked to leave.
She refused, demanding money back for her accommodation and police were called.
Sen-Constable Warchow was one of two police officers who arrived about 2am and Reeves was asked to leave after being abusive and swearing.
She was told she would be committing a offence by refusing to leave.
Reeves packed her bags and left, but had turned to go back inside and Sen-Constable Warchow twice used a check drill with his open palms to stop her before being slapped in the jaw and neck area.
He told Reeves she was under arrest for assaulting him and she kicked out when being put into a caged police truck.
She kicked, yelled and screamed on the way to the station and a search of her bags uncovered cannabis and a white substance in a plastic bag.
Reeves allegedly told police the cannabis belonged to her and it was for personal use.
The powder was cocaine and she had intended taking it.
Sen-Constable Warchow and the police supervisor held Reeves in a cell while a woman officer took her jeans off and searched them.
The pants were left in the cell and Reeves allegedly spat in Sen-Constable Warchow’s face as he left the cell.
Footage from the police cells was viewed yesterday afternoon and the hearing continues today.
