HC Deb 01 March 1984 vol 55 cc281-2W
Mr. Litherland

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used before women are strip-searched in prisons (a) in general circumstances and (b) before attending a remand hearing in England.

Mr. Hurd

All prisoners, including female prisoners, are normally strip-searched on reception into, and discharged from, closed prison establishments and on location in a segregration unit. All prisoners are normally strip-searched before attending a remand hearing. Strip-searches are carried out on other occasions as the governor thinks necessary, but it is not possible to set out all the considerations which the governor may reasonably have in mind.