Proponents of The Strip Search say they turn up contraband and dangerous weapons and are necessary for safety of inmates, police and the public. Opponents call them humiliating, manipulative and mostly unnecessary. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that Strip Searches can be used for any offence from violating a leash law to failing to pay child support. Canada's highest court prohibits them as a routine police practice but tens-of-thousands of people are strip-searched on arrest. Now, an attempt for a class-action suit is underway by those who say police are taking too much leeway despite our laws.

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Part Two of The Current

Police Strip Searches - Panel

We started this segment with a clip from Albert Florence describing the night in 2005 when police strip-searched him in the Burlington County jail in New Jersey. His bad night began when his wife was pulled over for speeding. When police searched his records, they discovered an outstanding arrest warrant for an unpaid fine.

But the warrant was a mistake - the fine had been paid. Still, Mr. Florence was jailed for a week and strip searched twice. If he hoped to find sympathy among the judges of the U.S. Supreme Court, he was sadly mistaken.

Last week, they ruled officials may conduct strip-searches for any offence... no matter how minor. The debate is playing out in this country as well. Last week a bid was made in the B.C. Supreme Court to classify a class action lawsuit on behalf of two people who say they were wrongly strip-searched in the Vancouver jail in 2003. Elise Thorburn is one of the complainants. She was in our Toronto studio.

And Jason Gratl is the Vancouver based lawyer attempting to classify a class action lawsuit on behalf of two people claiming they were wrongly strip searched in 2003. Elise Thorburn is one of those people.

The Vancouver Police Department declined our request for an interview.

Police Strip Searches - Canadian Police Association

Tom Stamatakis has agreed to speak with us. He's President of the Canadian Police Association and he joined us now from Vancouver.

This segment was produced by The Current's Liz Hoath and Ellen Saenger.

Related Links:

• Vancouver jail strip-search lawsuit seeks redress for thousands By: Keith Fraser - Postmedia News
• Strip searches get police in trouble By: Joe Warmington - Toronto Sun
• 60% of Toronto arrests lead to strip searches - CBC News
• Supreme Court Ruling Allows Strip Searches for Any Arrest By: Adam Liptak - New York Times
  

Other segments from today's show:

• Quebec student protests against tuition hikes
• The Fat Years: Chan Koonchung