§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will outline the search procedures followed for (a) a strip search and (b) a body search, as carried out in Brixton prison on female remand prisoners;
- (2) whether he will publish in a table the number of cell changes that have taken place during the months of October and November on female remand prisoners in Brixton prison, and the frequency;
- (3) whether he will publish a table showing the number of cell searches carried out on the two female remand prisoners held in Brixton prison during the months of October and November, detailing the frequency and whether they were carried out during the day or night;
- (4) on what basis, random strip searches are carried out in Brixton prison, in addition to strip searches being carried out on entering and leaving the prison, for female remand prisoners.
§ Mr. MellorThe practices followed by Brixton prison have been in accordance with rule 39 of the Prison Rules 1964 and with standing instructions. These provide that every prisoner shall be given a strip search on reception and at other times thereafter including those at which they have been carried out at Brixton—that is, before and after court appearances, after visits, and at the time of cell changes and wing and cell searches; that a prisoner shall be searched in as seemly a manner as is consistent with discovering anything concealed; that no prisoner shall be stripped and searched in the sight of another prisoner; that no female inmate shall be searched in the sight or presence of a male officer; and that a prisoner shall be searched only by an officer of the same sex. For reasons which the hon. Member will understand, it is not the practice to disclose detailed information such as that requested about security arrangements—for example, the frequency of cell changes or cell searches. However, my noble Friend will write to the hon. Member giving such further information as he can.