§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any staff members have been reprimanded as a result of conduct during a strip search in prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: There is no record of any such reprimand.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches of women prisoners have taken place in the presence of one or more male prison officers in each of the past six years.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985 c. 69]: None: male officers are never present during such searches.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what type of items which may constitute a danger to the prison system are intended to be discovered by strip searching.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: This form of searching, in Northern Ireland as elsewhere, is one of the precautions necessary to minimise the risk of illicit items being brought into or taken out of the prison: in particular firearms, explosives and drugs.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing those items which have been found during a strip searching in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: One of the most important aspects of any form of searching is its deterrent value. Whilst detailed records are not kept of all the items found during strip searches carried out at individual prison establishments, detonators, drugs, unauthorised cash and illicit letters have been among the items discovered.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement on the contribution of strip searches to prison security in Northern Ireland;
142W(2) what study of strip searching he has made since his appointment; and what consideration he is giving to such investigations;
(3) if he will order an end to strip searches in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 21 December 1984, at column 382.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many strip searches have taken place in each of the Northern Ireland prisons in each of the past 10 years;
(2) how many prisoners have been subjected to strip searching in each of Northern Ireland's prisons in the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: Records are available only in respect of women prisoners in Armagh prison since November 1982. These are as follows:
Year Total number of searches Number of women prisoners involved 1982 November—December 400 (figures not available) 1983 1,218 358 1984 355 228
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what medical or nursing staff are required to be present during a strip search of a prisoner.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: Medical or nursing staff are not normally required to be present during a strip search of a prisoner, but prison rules provide that the governor shall, without prejudice to his other duties, draw the attention of the medical officer without delay to any prisoner whose physical or mental condition appears to require attention.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what level of authority individual strip searches are ordered or authorised.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: Prison governors are responsible for such searches carried out in their establishments within the policy laid down by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. In those situations where it is the policy for strip searching to be carried out on a random basis, governors may, in accordance with prison rules, delegate responsibility for selecting individual inmates to other members of the governing grades or to appropriate uniformed officers.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines are issued to prison staff regarding strip searches; and what sanction there is against a member of staff who breaches those guidelines.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: Detailed instructions are given to staff who carry out this form of search explaining how the searches are to be carried out.
Like all complaints, any complaint against a member of staff arising from a search is carefully investigated and if appropriate, action is taken under the code of discipline.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if there has been any evidence, from medical 143W reports on prisoners, of mental, nervous or physical injuries caused by strip searching in Northern Ireland prisons.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efforts his Department is making regarding the welfare of women prisoners in Northern Ireland; and what further initiatives he proposes in this regard.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 69]: Every effort is made, consistent with the necessary security precautions, to provide for the welfare of women prisoners. These efforts include the work of prison welfare staff and others concerned with rehabilitation, the provision of a wide range of day and evening activities and considerate home leave arrangements. The regime for women prisoners will be reviewed when the new women's prison at Maghaberry is occupied, which is expected to be in about a year's time.