HC Deb 05 December 1986 vol 106 cc831-2W
Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many women have been strip searched in each prison in Scotland 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 random or regular basis; and what are the purposes of the searches;

(2) how many men have been strip searched in each prison in Scotland during the last 12 months; what were the comparable numbers for the previous 12 months; how many times per month each man is strip searched; whether strip searching takes place on a random or a regular basis; and what are the purposes of the searches.

Mr. Lang

Strip searching of inmates, male or female, in Scottish prisons is carried out only to the extent necessary to maintain security and prevent inmates having concealed weapons or unauthorised substances such as drugs.

Standing orders require strip searches to be carried out on the following occasions:

  1. (a) as part of normal admission and discharge procedures;
  2. (b) when a prisoner is being transferred to a segregation unit;
  3. (c) during routine cell searches and special cell searches where there is reason to believe that contraband or weapons are being concealed;
  4. (d) following "open" visits; and
  5. (e) on leaving prison to attend a court hearing.

Statistics are not kept on strip searches of male prisoners or the small number of female prisoners held on remand in local prisons. The number of strip-searches of females at Cornton Vale institution in 1985, when figures were first kept, was 4,219 and in 1986, to 31 October, 2,924.

Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the strip searching of women in Scottish prisons has ever been carried out in front of male officers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

No. The statutory rules governing searching of prisoners stipulate that a prisoner shall be searched only by officers of the same sex as the prisoner.