Sniffer Dogs Have Costa's Backing
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday December 4, 2002
THE rights of a drug sniffer dog to nuzzle the crotch of a person suspected of carrying drugs was defended yesterday by Police Minister Michael Costa.
Mr Costa came to the defence of drug sniffer dog Rocky, who was found by a local court magistrate to have illegally conducted a search on a Sydney nightclub patron in February 2001.
As part of her decision, the magistrate found the sniffing of the person's pockets and general genital area was illegal and in breach of personal rights, and she quashed two charges of drug possession.
But the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed against the decision and NSW Supreme Court Justice Barry O'Keefe last Thursday overturned the ruling, ordering the charges be reinstated.
Justice O'Keefe said the ``sniffing" by a police dog did not equate to a search.
© 2002 Illawarra Mercury