It is understood some staff have approached a number of firms directly because they do not feel comfortable raising issues with management.

"I have contacted several firms and encouraged them to look into a law suit for children to sue the ACT for human rights violations," one source told The Canberra Times.

Sources said they were particularly concerned about the use of "squat and cough" searches on children as young as 10 years old and the practice of filming strip searches.

A 2011 report by the ACT Human Rights Commission recommended Bimberi, located in the northern Canberra suburb of Kenny, "cease conducting strip searches as a matter of routine".

"Bimberi claims to be a human rights compliant detention centre and a leader in how juveniles should be treated. I disagree," a source said.

"The concern I have is the filming of strip searches on children as young as 10 years old.

"Young people are strip searched in a room where there is a camera facing the shower and a small brick wall barricade between the shower and the camera.

"This wall is meant to block their naked body as staff strip search them, however it is very ineffective.

"Everything that happens in the room is video recorded."

Another source said strip search arrangements were inadequate and intrusive.

"The privacy wall offers some protection but not for the taller detainees," the source said.

"The problem arises when detainees are made to shower after the youth worker closes the door.

"Unless they wish to get wet clothes by changing in the shower, they must walk around the wall to the dry floor where they are in full view of the camera."

A spokesman for the Community Services Directorate said all searches were conducted in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines.

"The policy and procedures for the operation of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre are compliant with the Children and Young Peoples Act 2008 and the Human Rights Act 2004," he said.

"This includes practices related to both searching and to the lawful separation and mixing of different categories of young people.

"The directorate has previously provided detailed information in regard to searching practices at Bimberi."

It is understood some staff have contacted at least two prominent law firms with expertise in social justice and human rights issues.

One of the law firms told The Canberra Times it was too early to comment on the allegations.

Although it is not clear whether there is a legal basis to proceed with the allegations, advice provided by the ACT Human Rights Commission indicates it is possible.

"If a person is a victim of a breach of their human rights by a public authority - generally an ACT government agency - they may be able to commence proceedings in the ACT Supreme Court to enforce their rights," the commission said on its website.

The ACT's Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Helen Watchirs OAM, has previously described how the agency worked closely with Bimberi to ensure the facility was human rights compliant.

"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 has contraband," she said.

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

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