The ACT's Community Services Directorate must, as a matter of urgency, review its policy on strip searching detainees at the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre with a view to ending the practice.
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Canberrans are entitled to an explanation as to why, almost seven years after the ACT Human Rights Commission recommended "routine" strip searches be abandoned, the practice is allowed to continue.
Given the images that have come out of the Northern Territory's Don Dale facility and many of the concerns that have been raised by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse it is a mystery why practices such as "squat and cough" have been allowed to continue for so long.
This entails a young person, in some cases a 10-year-old, stripping naked, squatting with their back to a youth worker and then coughing on command.
In addition to being traumatic and potentially psychologically damaging for the detainee, the practice is also repugnant to many of those who are required to carry it out.
Brave staff members who have risked their careers by speaking out to The Canberra Times have described "squat and cough" as "degrading and humiliating for children".
The 2011 ACT Human Rights Commission report came to the same conclusion. It also noted that the practice appeared to be a waste of time.
"In only one per cent of the strip searches audited (136 across an eight month period) was any contraband registered as being found," it states.
"These items were tobacco residue, pens, playing cards and a hair band. All were found in clothing."
The report went on to note that: "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 (such as sexual abuse by adults)."
While the directorate has played down the issue, rejecting allegations young people continue to be routinely strip searched on their induction into or return to Bimberi, it has not, and cannot, deny such searches do take place on a not infrequent basis.
"A register is kept of all strip searches and this is reviewed on a three monthly basis by the public advocate," The Canberra Times was told by a spokesman.
The only reason this issue has come to light is through the courage of Bimberi staff who, despite heavy handed warnings have spoken up.
The directorate would be well advised to consider, in the light of what has happened elsewhere, that a lack of transparency or the perception matters of public interest are being covered up could lead to calls for an independent inquiry into Bimberi's management policies and practices.
