Children degraded by 'cough and squat' strip searches, Bimberi staff say

Staff said the searches were unnecessary, humiliating, and could bring back traumatic memories for children with histories of sexual abuse.

The Community Services Directorate said all detainees were strip searched upon entrance to the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre to prevent drugs and weapons being smuggled inside.

Any further strip searches were undertaken as a matter of last resort when the young person presented a known risk, a spokesman said.

A 2011 report by the ACT Human Rights Commission recommended that Bimberi "cease conducting strip searches as a matter of routine".

"I wonder what is more important, finding a missing pen, or the pride and dignity of vulnerable teenagers," a Bimberi employee said at the time.

Sources told The Canberra Times that six years on from the report, detainees were still strip searched every time they came back from a visit outside the centre.

"Children as young as 10 are strip searched every time they enter the centre, go to court, go on medical escort or it staff have suspicion," one source said.

"The strip searches are conducted routinely when young people come back from outside visits," another source added.

Staff had particular worries about the "squat and cough" strip search procedure.

"A concern with strip searches at Bimberi is the use of what's called the 'squat and cough'," a source said.

"While the child is naked they are asked to turn away from the youth worker and squat as low as they can to the ground.

"The youth worker then demands the child cough, sometimes several times if the child isn't coughing loud enough.

"I believe this practice to be degrading and humiliating for children."

The 2011 report by the ACT Human Rights Commission audited 136 strip searches performed across an eight month period at Bimberi.

It found that strip searching was both an intrusive and ineffective method for finding contraband.

"In only one per cent of the strip searches audited was any contraband registered as being found," the commission said.

"These items were tobacco residue, pens, playing cards and a hair band. All were found in clothing."

The report continued: "The group of young people at Bimberi are particularly vulnerable, given their likely backgrounds and experience of a closed environment.

"Strip searching such young people is a highly invasive measure and one that is likely to make some relive traumatic experiences."

Opposition youth spokeswoman Elizabeth Kikkert said it was far from acceptable to subject young children to such treatment.

"My office has received multiple reports that children as young as 10 are routinely subjected to strip searches at Bimberi," she said.

"If these reports are accurate, this practice must stop.

"It was condemned by the Human Rights Commissioner's audit of Bimberi in 2011, and I condemn it myself now."

A Community Services Directorate spokesman said Bimberi had strict protocols governing when and how a young person would be strip searched.

"Staff do not as a matter of routine use strip searching to search young persons upon induction or return to the centre," he said.

"Staff make a decision as to the most suitable type of search based upon known risks regarding the young person, with strip searching an important safety tool where risk exists.

"Strip searching is used only after an ordinary and frisk search have been undertaken.

"A register is kept of all strip searches and this is reviewed on a three monthly basis by the public advocate."

The ACT's Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Helen Watchirs OAM, said the agency maintained its stance that routine strip searches should be avoided.

"Our staff regularly inspects the strip search register to ensure that detailed notes are recorded about the evidence used that led to 'reasonable suspicion' by Bimberi officers that a young person had contraband," she said.

"We will continue to monitor implementation of our recommendations, and visit Bimberi regularly as part of our oversight functions."