§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A women prisoners there were in Her Majesty's prison, Durham in January 1988; and how many strip searches were made on these prisoners in that month, indicating strip searches before and after consultation with legal advisers, after visits and after cell changes, wing searches and cell searches, and listing reasons for searches and illegal contraband or smuggled items found.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggDuring January there were three category A women prisoners in Durham prison. The number of occasions on which each was strip searched during the month is shown in the table:
Inmate A Inmate B Inmate C After legal visits — — — After other visits 2 — 1 At the time of cell changes, and wing and cell searches 1 1 1 Other — 2 1 No unauthorised article was found on any of the three women. I set out the reasons for such searches in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 15 January at column 446.
§ 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 on a monthly basis since they have been remanded at Risley, 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.
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§ Mr. Douglas HoggOn 9 February there were six inmates on remand at Risley remand centre who had provisionally been allocated to 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. In accordance with standing instructions, this prisoner was strip searched on initial reception at Risley in September. Subsequently, she was strip searched on the following number of occasions up to the end of January, all in connection with appearances at court for remand hearings:
Number September 2 October 6 November 4 December 4 January 6 No unauthorised article was discovered on any of these occasions. On no occasion did the prisoner refuse to be strip searched.