As Tone Deaf reported yesterday, police have issued a warning to punters headed to Splendour In The Grass this weekend that they’ll be out in full force, keeping they eye on any festivalgoers who might be attempting to bring contraband into the festival site.
The statement from local police also confirmed that they would be armed with sniffer dogs, an ever-controversial presence at music festivals. It was their presence at Splendour that prompted Art vs Science’s Dan McNamee to call for a ban on sniffer dog use.
While organisers have not commented on getting rid of sniffer dogs at the festival, they have issued a set of guidelines for punters to follow should they be stopped by sniffer dogs, in order to ensure they are safe and their rights are not violated.
Readers can check out Splendour’s full guide to ‘Drugs and Your Rights’ over at the official Splendour In The Grass website, where there’s also a list of all the items banned from this year’s festival campsite, or find it listed below.
SPLENDOUR’S GUIDE TO DRUGS AND YOUR RIGHTS
You may be searched on your way into Splendour this year, so don’t bring anything you shouldn’t.
If you are searched, you have rights – knowing them will empower you to navigate the process.
If you are stopped because a dog indicates you might have drugs, this gives Police “reasonable suspicion” and they are within their rights to search you.
Stay calm, follow directions and be nice – if you resist or use foul language you are exacerbating the situation (and looking guilty – see below).
If the Police find nothing, but wish to conduct a strip search they may only do so if (i) the circumstances are serious or urgent and (ii) they take you somewhere private. You may also request that the search be undertaken by a police officer of the same sex and they are not allowed to touch you.
If the strip search finds nothing, and the Police wish to conduct a cavity search they may only do so IF YOU CONSENT. If you decline to consent to the cavity search, they must get a warrant which means leaving site and going to Court.
If you are arrested (in all but the most serious cases) you are likely to receive a summons and be allowed to enter the festival (sans contraband). Once inside the gates you should proceed immediately to the free legal advice tent run by Randall Legal.
If you are arrested you should ask to speak to a solicitor immediately.
If you don’t know a solicitor you can contact Randall Legal who have an advice stall at the Festival and a Festival advice number 0434 410 410.
