Festival drugs: Sniffer dogs return to Lost Paradise against Coroner’s recommendation

Should sniffer dogs be used at music festivals? The NSW Police seem to think so despite a coroner’s strong recommendation against them. What’s your thoughts? Vote in our poll.

About 15,000 revellers have converged on Glenworth Valley for the first Lost Paradise festival since Brisbane man Josh Tam, 22, died from a drug overdose in 2018.

When the queue of cars, which at one point stretched back about 3km, reached the security check point they were greeted by drug detection dogs despite a NSW deputy state coroner’s strongest recommendation that police cease and desist the intimidating and potentially “harmful” practice.

The festival returns after a four-year hiatus since Mr Tam is believed to have “preloaded” three to four ecstasy pills in the campground before entering the festival proper.

He was one of six young people to fatally overdose at music festivals within 12 months of each other and prompted the state government to take the remarkable step of holding a mass inquest into their tragic deaths.

Lost Paradise was cancelled in 2019 with organisers putting the decision down to the threat of bushfires.

The festival, where more than 50 young people were stopped and charged with drug possession trying to enter the same year as Mr Tam died, was again cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid restrictions.

But in its first year back officers have returned with sniffer dogs despite the deputy state coroner’s number one recommendation to the NSW Police to scrap the controversial practice.

The Lost Paradise festival returns to Glenworth Valley in 2022 after four years off because of bushfires and Covid. (There is no suggestion anyone pictured has anything to do with drugs) Picture: Lost paradise/Facebook

In delivering her findings deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame was scathing about the use of drug detection dogs at festivals saying it was “ludicrous” to think they were as effective as the police made out.

She also said the evidence clearly showed, if anything, drug sniffer dogs posed more of a risk to public safety as it could lead to people swallowing all of their drugs beforehand or buying from unknown sources inside the venue.

“In my view there is strong evidence that the operation of drug dog detection programs may cause significant harm in the music festival environment. Risky ingestion and secretion, trauma especially when coupled with strip search and the destruction of trust between young

people and police are all serious concerns,” Ms Grahame said.

“There is also evidence that the program does not in any event, deter drug users from consuming drugs.

22-year-old Josh Tam (RIGHT) died from a drug overdose at the Lost Paradise music festival. Picture: Facebook

“Having reviewed the evidence, I remain extremely concerned about the practice of drug dog

operations at music festivals. In my view the evidence establishes that panic ingestion or

preloading was a factor in some of the deaths under review.”

Following the inquest Ms Grahame made 28 recommendations to various government departments, the Australian Festivals Association and a private first aid contractor used at large live music events.

Four of the recommendations were directed solely at the NSW Police, the first being to scrap the use of drug dogs.

The coroner clearly recommended against using sniffer dogs at festivals. Picture: Ian Currie.

“That, given the evidence of a link between the use of drug dogs and more harmful means of

consumption (including panic ingestion, double dosing, pre-loading, and insertion in a vaginal

or anal cavity) the model of policing at music festivals be changed to remove drug detection

dogs,” she recommended.

However Brisbane Water Police acting superintendent Guy Flaherty defended the use of dogs and the accompanying “high visibility” operation at this year’s festival where officers will be “targeting drug supply, alcohol-fuelled violence, and anti-social behaviour”.

“We have been working closely with event organisers and stakeholders and are expecting up to 15,000 people to attend over the four days. We hope all festival goers will be responsible and look out for themselves and others,” he said.

“Officers will proactively target drug supply, and those who bring illegal drugs into the festival can expect to be caught. Festival-goers who choose to do the wrong thing not only put their own safety at risk, but also the safety of those around them.”

Acting superintendent Flaherty also encouraged festival goers to drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and “keep an eye on your mates — ensure they don’t wander off alone, and if they appear unwell, seek professional medical attention immediately”.

A police spokeswoman said drug dogs continued to be used regardless of the coroner’s recommendations.

“Drug detection dogs are used as a method for police to screen large crowds of people for the possession of prohibited drugs,” she said.

“In all cases their use is governed by stringent procedures, and NSW Police continue to follow these procedures. Drug detection dog use has resulted in significant amounts of illicit drugs being prevented from entering the community.”