§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any warning was given to prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, that strip searches would be introduced if prisoners were found smuggling items into the prison.
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§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, prior to 22 October 1982, there had been any reports of prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, attempting to smuggle items into the prison.
§ Mr. PriorThere have been various occasions when it has been suspected that prisoners at Armagh have brought in unauthorised items; but it would not be appropriate for me to give details.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the usual examination of prisoners subject to strip search in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, involves an internal viewing of the body orifices.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, since the introduction of strip searches into Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, any prisoners have been found in possession of illegal items while being searched; and what items.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, have been charged before the governor, the board of visitors or courts with smuggling items into Armagh prison; and which items.
§ Mr. PriorPossession of unauthorised articles can be dealt with under prison rules by confiscation or by disciplinary proceedings.
During the six months from 1 August 1982 to 28 February 1983, six prisoners were charged before the governor with possession of unauthorised articles. The articles were keys, letters and cigarettes.
It is not possible to say with certainty that all the articles had been smuggled in by the prisoners themselves.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the criteria now used for deciding to strip search a prisoner attending court for a remand hearing from Her Majesty's prison, Armagh.
§ Mr. PriorThese are matters for operational judgment and it would not be appropriate for me to go into detail.
Mr. McNaramaasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether metal detectors had been in use in examining remand prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Armagh, before the discovery of the two keys discovered in the search of Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, on 22 October.