Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Max Madden (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 March 1997. It was answered by Ann Widdecombe (Conservative) on Monday, 17 March 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office;Prison Service

Question
On what occasions (a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners in HMP Holloway are required to be strip searched; if he will place in the Library the regulations concerning how such body searches should be carried out; what training is given to officers to ensure such searches are conducted in accordance with the law; if prisoners who are pregnant are exempt from such body searches. - Text of letter from A J Pearson of the Prison Service. (Holding answer 11 March 1997).
Answer

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions (a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners in HMP Holloway are required to be strip searched; if he will place in the Library the regulations concerning how such body searches should be carried out; what training is given to officers to ensure such searches are conducted in accordance with the law; if prisoners who are pregnant are exempt from such body searches; and if he will make a statement. [19739] Miss Widdecombe: [holding answer 11 March 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Max Madden, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about strip searching of prisoners. Both remand and convicted prisoners at Holloway are strip searched on first reception, before leaving the prison on any escort, and on their subsequent return; when their cells are searched in accordance with the local searching strategy (roughly once a month); and if they are received into the segregation unit. In addition, prisoners are liable to random strip searches after visits. The governor may also require a strip search on any occasion when this is necessary for security. The regulations covering strip searches are contained in Prison Rule 39, and in the Prison Service Manual on Security, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Prison officers are trained in the authorised procedures for strip searching on their initial training course and receive refresher training as required. Pregnant women are not exempt from strip searches. Strip searching is a routine and necessary security measure to which all prisoners are subject. It enables prison officers to detect items of contraband, such as drugs or a weapon, which may be concealed about the person. It is not possible to detect some illicit items by use of X-ray portals or hand-held metal detectors.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
19739; 292 c403-4W
Session
1996-97
Subjects
Body searches Prisoners Prisons HMP/YOI Holloway