More than half of the people strip searched by WA Police so far in 2025-26 were Indigenous, questions in Parliament from Greens MP Brad Pettitt have revealed.

Key points:

• More than 50 per cent of all strip searches carried out in the financial year to date have been on First Nations people
• Almost two thirds of strip searches carried out on women were on First Nations women
• The number of strip searches carried out by WA Police has increased by 44 per cent over the past seven years

Dr Pettitt, the Greens (WA) justice spokesperson, told National Indigenous Times the "sheer volume of strip searches being undertaken by WA Police, particularly when you consider the incredibly disproportionate impact the practice has on First Nations Western Australians, is deeply concerning".

"Over the last seven years the number of strip searches carried out by WA Police has increased by 44 per cent and is on track to break through 50,000 this year for the first time. Over the last decade, that number has more than doubled," he said.

"More than 50 per cent of all strip searches carried out in the financial year to date have been on First Nations people and almost two thirds of strip searches carried out on women were on First Nations women. These statistics are astonishing, given First Nations people make up just 3.5 per cent of the population here in Western Australia."

Kurin Minang human rights expert and law academic Associate Professor Hannah McGlade told National Indigenous Times the data provided "more evidence of racial profiling and discriminatory policing".

"The Police Commissioner, Police Minister and the Attorney General need to start taking responsibility for this shocking state of affairs," she said.

"We have seen it with police dog attacks, we have seen it with road stops: there is a pattern of racial profiling.

"Women making up more than half of the strip searches is horrific."

A WA Police spokesperson said strip search numbers "reflect operational activity, including custody volumes, enforcement activity and lawful use of search powers".

"Police may conduct strip searches under relevant legislation where it is lawful and necessary, based on the circumstances and reasonable suspicion that evidence may be concealed.

"The decision to conduct a strip search is based on the circumstances of the incident and takes into account antecedents, criminal history and behaviour. Age, sex and race are not factors in the decision to conduct a strip search."

The spokesperson said the number of strip searches conducted has increased in recent years "due to the significant rise in the number of offenders processed".

Dr Pettitt said there is "very little accountability and transparency around search practices and very little public information about how and when police use strip searches".

"Rest assured I will be following this up in Parliament," he said.

"What is clear is that this is just more evidence that the Cook Labor government is the most authoritarian Labor government we have ever seen."