HC Deb 05 December 1984 vol 69 cc184-5W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the sex of the prison officer who searched the wife of a prisoner who was visiting her husband at Her Majesty's prison, Walton, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside; and what was the extent of the search.

Mr. Mellor

The incident to which the hon. Member refers occurred on 29 October. At that time there was a special security alert at Liverpool prison, as at very many public buildings, following the bomb outrage at Brighton, and the hand luggage of all visitors to the prison was being searched. A notice was displayed at the prison gate accordingly. No exception was made in this case and the hand luggage of the prisoner's wife was searched by a male prison officer. My noble Friend, the Minister of State, will be replying shortly to the hon. Member's letters.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria is used in deciding to search wives of prisoners who visit their husbands in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

The decision to conduct searches of visitors on a particular occasion is taken in the light of a range of factors, including the need to maintain security and good order and discipline within the establishment.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the searching of wives who visit their husbands at Her Majesty's prison, Walton; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

One other hon. Member has written about this in the current year; there have also been a few petitions and I am advised that the governor of the prison has received about six letters. So far as we can establish in the time available, all these cases were about searches by the police when information had been received about drug smuggling.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been searched when visiting Her Majesty's prison, Walton, in each of the past three years; and what were the findings of such searches.

Mr. Mellor

Information about the number of women searched is not available, and the results of searches are not recorded by reference to the sex of the visitor concerned.