§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry, in March and April 1987, respectively; if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched; whether any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being concluded; and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making an appearance in court on remand and in which court, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons;
(2) how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry, in June 1986; if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched; whether any prison contraband, smuggled items or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted; and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making an appearance in court, and in which court, on remand, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, column 568]: The information requested is as follows:
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1986 1987 June March April Total number of searches carried out 36 33 49 Total number of inmates searched 23 20 27 Number of prisoners searched once 13 9 9 Number of prisoners searched twice 8 9 15 Number of prisoners searched three times 1 2 2 Number of prisoners searched four times 1 — 1 First admission on remand/awaiting trial 7 2 8 First admission on sentence/final discharge 18 17 25 Attending Antrim remand court — — 1 Attending Armagh remand court — — 1 Attending Belfast remand court — 6 2 Attending Larne remand court — 1 — Attending Newtownards remand court — 2 — Attending trial 1 — — Attending appeal — 1 1 Bail court appearances 5 2 7 Going on or returning from home leave — 2 2 Compassionate home leave 4 — — Inter-prison visits 1 — 2 No prohibited article was found during these searches and no prisoner refused to be searched.