§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what method the number of strip searches is recorded at HMP Holloway; how many searches carried out in(a) the last year and (b) each of the previous five years; and what items of (i) contraband and (ii) other confiscated items have been recorded in each year. [7080]
§ Beverley HughesThe available information on the number of searches is set out in the table. Prisoners are required to undergo strip searches in a number of circumstances, including whenever they pass through reception on their way into or out of prison establishments; prior to providing a sample of urine for a mandatory drugs test (MDT); and in connection with routine and targeted strip searches. A percentage of prisoners are strip searched before and after visits, and prisoners may also be strip searched at any time when it is believed that they may be concealing unauthorised articles. Prisoners in the Health Care Centre and Detox Units at Holloway prison may also be strip searched if staff believe they may be concealing articles which could be used to harm themselves or others.
In my written answer on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 99W, to my hon. Friend, I referred to the consideration being given to upgrading the prisoner database to provide statistical recording and monitoring of strip searches. That work is still continuing. In the meantime, the position at Holloway is that a register is maintained of strip searches associated with visits. A separate register is maintained of prisoners undergoing MDT. Cell searches are recorded on the appropriate form. However, while movement through reception will be recorded against the individual prisoner's record on the Local Inmate Database System, there is no requirement to record strip searches conducted in reception.
It is not possible to identify the unauthorised articles for every find, but the principal finds at Holloway have been of drugs and tablets, tobacco, jewellery, telephone cards, cash, confectionery and unauthorised correspondence. In 1998 and 2000, there were also instances of weapons being discovered in searches prior to MDT.
929W
Number of strip searches undertaken 1997 1998 1999 2000 20011 Visits 315 425 201 121 26 Cell searches 2— 2— 2— 31,034 505 Segregation unit 2— 31,326 31,200 31,334 3823 MDT 2— 805 740 646 458 Reception 318,000 318,000 318,000 318,000 318,000 1to 29 September 2not available 3approximately