§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were strip searched at immigration points in 1987, 1986 and 1985; whether individuals have any right of appeal when a strip search is proposed; and whether any code of practice exists in relation to these strip searches.
§ Mr. RentonParagraph 4(3) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 provides that an immigration officer may search the baggage and person of passengers seeking entry to ascertain whether they are carrying relevant documents, but no woman or girl may be searched except by a woman. It would be very unusual for a strip search to be necessary for this purpose, and there is no record of any search of this kind having taken place at immigration control points in the years in question.