HC Deb 07 December 1987 vol 124 cc78-9W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry, in each month from April to November; if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched; whether any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restained while the search was being conducted; and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making a remand appearance at court, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons.

Mr. Stanley

The information requested is as follows:

April May June July August September October November
Number of prisoners searched twice 15 7 5 9 6 8 5 13
Number of prisoners searched three times 2 1 1
Number of prisoners searched four times 1 1 1
Reason for Search
First admission on remand awaiting trial 8 11 2 6 7 10 6 12
First admission on sentence/final discharge 25 13 14 20 12 23 12 29
Attending Remand Court 4
Attending Trial 1
Attending Appeal 1 1
Bail Court appearances 7 4 3 2 1 2
Going on and returning from home leave 2 4 6 4 1 2
Inter-prison visit 2 2 1 1 1
After a visit 1

No prohibited article was found during these searches and no prisoner refused to be searched.

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