HC Deb 24 October 1983 vol 47 c41W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison Armagh in the months of July, August and September, respectively; if he will give the number of prisoners involved and the number of times each prisoner was searched; and whether any prison contraband, smuggled items or illegal correspondence was discovered in any of the searches.

Mr. Scott

During July 1983, 76 strip searches were carried out on 23 female inmates in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh. During August 1983, 90 such searches were carried out on 24 female inmates; and during September 1983, 103 such searches were carried out on 30 female inmates. Individual prisoners were searched the following number of times:

Number of Prisoners Number of searches in each case
July
1 22
1 18
2 4
2 3
5 2
12 1
August
1 25
1 24
1 4
3 3
10 2
8 1
September
2 26
1 6
1 3
16 2
10 1

The two prisoners who were strip searched most frequently during these months were those engaged in a pre-release working out scheme referred to in my right hon. Friend's reply of 26 April 1983. During these searches two prisoners were discovered smuggling unauthorised items into the prison. [Vol. 41, c. 317.]