§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of the female prisoners in Brixton prison who have been subject to strip searches; for what offence each is imprisoned; how many times these strip searches have taken place; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorStrip searching is a routine security measure for the detection of small items of contraband, in particular weapons and drugs, which can be concealed easily about the person and cannot be detected by other methods of searching. The three female prisoners on remand at Brixton prison have been strip searched in accordance with standard practice before and after court appearances, after visits, at the time of cell changes and during wing and cell searches.