Rules on kids’ strip searches to change

RECOMMENDATIONS made against the often “humiliating and distressing” act of strip-searching young people have been accepted by State Government.

Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said in May last year she provided advice to the government that the then practice of routine strip-searching of children and young people in custodial settings could not be justified and needed to end.

“As I pointed out in my advice, the experience of being strip-searched can be humiliating and distressing, and has the potential to re-traumatise children who have been sexually abused,” she said.

“I proposed a new approach to all searches of children and young people in custody based on human rights standards.”

Ms McLean made nine recommendations in relation to the searching of children in custody, and the government had recently provided a formal response. It accepted six recommendations outright and three in principle.

Some accepted recommendations included that routine strip-searching of children and young people could not be justified and should cease; that consideration should be given to investing in alternative security strategies or technologies such as body scanners; that the use of force should be limited to a last resort; and that all searches conducted on a minor in custody should be recorded on a search register.

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said they recognised concern around the issue: “It’s very important we look at alternative ways … the Department of Justice is doing that in terms of new technology.”