§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many women in Her Majesty's prison, Durham have been strip searched during the last 12 months; what were the comparable numbers for the previous 12 months; how many times per month each woman is strip searched; whether strip searching takes place on a regular or a random basis; and what are the purposes of the searches;
(2) how many women in Her Majesty's prison, Durham are body searched within the prison; how many times per day; on what occasions; and for what purposes these searches take place.
§ Mr. MellorEstablishments are not required to record all strip searches. However, Durham has, exceptionally, begun to keep records of strip searches in respect of category A female inmates. These show that from 1 August to 30 November such prisoners in Durham were strip searched 3.5 times per month on average.
Prisoners are strip searched on reception into a prison and subsequently as the Governor thinks necessary. The occasions on which a prisoner may be strip searched include before and after court appearances, after visits, at the time of cell changes, and during wing and cell searches. The frequency of searches depends upon such factors as the incidence of court appearances and visits, and the security category of the prisoner.
The purpose of strip searching is to detect and deter the concealment of small items (including weapons and drugs) which can be easily concealed about the person and which cannot be detected by other means of searching.
Rub-down searching (or frisking) is also used to detect and deter concealment of unauthorised articles. The occasions on which prisoners in Durham may be given a rub-down search include before and after work and exercise periods, before visits and on return to their wing after attendance at other parts of the prison, such as the hospital. Establishments are not required to record such searches.