British woman ‘degraded’ after being intimately strip-searched for breaking toilet rule
DJ Hannah Laing told how being subjected to an invasive strip-search without proper warning at a German festival for doing something she says is 'pretty normal'.
The 31-year-old said she and her cousin were detained by four undercover police officers moments after they exited a portaloo toilet together at the music event in Munich.
The bizarre incident unfolded shortly after Laing had wrapped up her own set on stage at the Isle of Summer festival on 9 May.
Laing, who hails from Dundee, Scotland, called out the undercover coppers for their alleged conduct in an Instagram post shared the following day.
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The former dental nurse explained that she had finished her set and was making to her way to see another artist perform with her cousin when they made a stop-off at the toilets.
"Me and my cousin went into a portaloo together because the queues were long, something that's pretty normal at festivals," Laing wrote.
"As soon as we came out, we were detained by four undercover police officers," she told her 300,000 followers. "At first, we genuinely thought they were joking until they walked us through the festival in front of everyone with our hands held together. I had just come off stage after performing, so it felt seriously humiliating being seen from ravers."
Laing went on to claim that they were then taken to a private tent where they were then left in the hands of female police officers.
"They told us they suspected we had been taking drugs because we went to the toilet together," she said. "I told them that we hadn't. They then said they needed to search us. I assumed this meant checking pockets/bags.
"One officer held my hands and the other did an invasive search all over, including in my underwear (front and back) feeling absolutely everywhere. I felt extremely degraded and embarrassed.
"My cousin was crying because she felt the same. They found nothing because we weren't taking drugs."
Laing stated that if she and her cousin had been aware the search would be so invasive, they would have rather left the festival and refused to go through with it.
The DJ said that the officers subsequently informed them that there were signs on the toilet doors warning revellers that people entering portaloos together would be penalised.
"But it was written in German, which we don't speak," Laing went on. "The sign states: 'Anyone who enters a booth/cabin with two people (or more) will be banned and removed from the event'.
"Nowhere did it state that attendees could be subjected to an invasive-style strip search."
Although Laing said she understands the importance of festival drug policies and the enforcement of them, 'the situation felt disproportionate'.
The Scotswoman said: "I could understand a more serious search if there had been suspicion of selling drugs. Regardless of festival policies, this shouldn't be considered normal treatment at any event.
"I also want to make it clear this is not the festival's fault," Laing added. "They looked after us extremely well and were also appalled at the situation."
Both festivalgoers and fellow DJs filled the comment section of Laing's post with messages of support, while the founder of The Warehouse Project Sacha Lord said: "Totally unacceptable…this is appalling and I’m sorry you had to go through that."
DJ Sara Landry wrote: "This is so awful Hannah I'm so sorry this happened," while American producer Kaskade chimed in saying: "This is insane! I’m really sorry you had to go through this. So messed up."
However, Laing later left a comment herself saying she had also been bombarded with 'disturbing' remarks from people about the invasiveness of the search.
"The main point of this is CONSENT," she wrote. "So many men in the comments not understanding that you need to ASK to touch someone!! Disturbing af."
LADbible has contacted the Isle of Summer festival for comment.
Topics: World News, Europe, Festivals, Drugs
Olivia Burke