Police have been accused of aggressive and intimidating behaviour while launching raids on Australia's most famous LGBTQI district during Pride Month.
Large groups of officers, accompanied by sniffer dogs, descended on Oxford Street and its venues in central Sydney on Saturday.
They allegedly shoved, berated and forced patrons to remove their clothes in public view as part of drug searches, according to a joint letter from Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore.
One person who was searched felt so traumatised they could not stop crying, while another said they were only searched after a dog was directed to sit near them.
During a drag show that night, LGBTQI bar Universal Sydney was stormed by police who refused to leave, causing swathes of patrons to head for the doors.
