To the Federal, State and Territory Governments of Australia,

We, the undersigned, call on all Australian governments to immediately ban strip searching in prisons and enshrine this prohibition in law.

Every day in prisons across Australia, people are subjected to strip searching — an unnecessary, degrading and deeply harmful practice that must end now. 

This practice literally strips people of their dignity. It forces them to remove their clothing, expose their bodies to prison guards and comply with humiliating commands like bending, squatting and spreading their legs. For many in prison, this happens routinely and repeatedly. 

Strip searches are inherently traumatic, harmful and degrading. The use of strip searching in prisons is not about deterring people, it is not about identifying and preventing contraband – the evidence shows us how ineffective this practice is. Yet governments across this country continue to wield the power of strip searches over incarcerated people as a tool of punishment and coercive control and without any kind of proper oversight. 

Strip searching is sexual violence. Strip searching is state‑sanctioned violence. Strip searching must end. 

Strip searching in prisons happens behind closed doors and to people who already face profound disadvantage, trauma and discrimination, most notably women, trans and gender diverse people.

The End Strip Searching Campaign, led by FIGJAM is calling for all state and territory governments to:

• Ban strip searching in law: in recognition of the unnecessary, degrading and deeply harmful nature of the practice, all state and territory governments should immediately ban strip searches in Australian prisons.
• Regulate alternatives to strip searching: abuse thrives behind prison walls and, to protect against this, all state and territory governments should enact law reform to prescribe that the use of scanners and other alternative search methods only ever be used as a last resort in cases of absolute necessity, after less intrusive alternatives have already been exhausted and there remain objectively reasonable grounds to believe that a person is carrying specified, dangerous contraband.
• Support people and communities, not prisons: instead of expanding the prisons system and putting more people at risk of being subjected to cruel and degrading practices like strip searches, all state and territory governments should build up the community supports required to divert people away from prisons.

These reforms are urgent. They are achievable. And they will protect people from state sanctioned sexual violence.

The End Strip Searching Campaign, led by FIGJAM (Formally Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne) has documented the violence of this practice and the urgent need for it to be banned in law. 

The time for action is now.

Join us in our campaign to ban the use of strip searching in Australian prisons and call on governments across the country to ensure the human rights of people in custody are protected. 

Read the full report ENDING STRIP SEARCHING in Australian Prisons, co‑authored by Flat Out, FIGJAM and the Human Rights Law Centre here.

About the Report Partners

Flat Out

Flat Out is a state-wide advocacy and support service for women, trans and gender diverse people (and their children) who have been criminalised. We are an independent, not for profit, community-based organisation that aims to prevent women and trans and gender-diverse people from entering and returning to prison.

FIGJAM

Formally Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne (FIGJAM) is a collective of formerly incarcerated women, trans and gender diverse folks who live work and play across so called Victoria. FIGJAM was founded in the hope and dream of building a community of staunch advocates providing connection, support and stability to its members.

The Human Rights Law Centre

The Human Rights Law Centre uses strategic legal action, policy solutions and advocacy to support people and communities to eliminate inequality and injustice and build a fairer, more compassionate Australia.