§ 18. Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the searching of woman prisoners in Armagh gaol.
§ Mr. ScottStrip searches are a necessary part of maintaining prison security. The procedures used in Northern Ireland are the same as those which have been used for many years in comparable prisons in Great Britain and elsewhere. The need for and frequency of searches are kept under close review. The number conducted each month has fallen substantially over the last two years.