§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A prisoners are at present held on remand at Risley detention centre; to how many strip searches they have been subjected in February and March, giving the number of persons involved, the number of times each person was searched and if 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 a search was being conducted; and what were the reasons for the search under each of the following headings:(a) making a remand appearance at court, (b) attending a trial, (c) inter-prison visit and (d) other reasons.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggOn 19 April, there were seven inmates on remand at Risley remand centre who had been placed in category A. Comprehensive records of strip searches are available only in respect of category A women prisoners, of whom there was one in Risley on the date in question. This prisoner was strip-searched on 14 occasions in February and on four occasions in March in connection with her appearances at remand hearings; and on five occasions in February and on three occasions in March following visits. No unauthorised article was discovered on any of these occasions. On no occasion did the prisoner refuse to be strip-searched.