Stripsearch blessing over Bishop protesters
WA Police have found that officers did nothing wrong by stripsearching religious leaders arrested for protesting at Julie Bishop's Subiaco electorate office.
Eight religious leaders were stripped naked and told to "squat and cough" during processing at the Perth Watch House in December.
Group members, from the Love Makes a Way campaign drawing attention to asylum seekers in detention, were charged with trespassing and granted a spent conviction in January.
The group has complained there was no need for a stripsearch, a procedure carried out when police reasonably suspect a detainee could have drugs or weapons.
In answers to questions in Parliament, Police Minister Liza Harvey revealed a WA Police internal investigation had "determined that the actions of the shift supervisor were appropriate in the circumstances".
The group's lawyer, Shash Nigam, said he was surprised at the finding. The group has complained to the Corruption and Crime Commission, which yesterday said its investigation was nearing completion.
Mrs Harvey said she would not comment further while the CCC investigation was in progress.
