§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the number of strip searches undergone by Miss Roisin McAliskey on her journey from HM prison Holloway to the magistrates court on 13 December. [10638]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 13 January 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 16 January 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about strip searches undergone by Miss Roisin McAliskey on her journey to court on 13 December.Miss McAliskey was subject to two strip searches in connection with her journey to court. In accordance with normal practice, she was strip searched on her departure for court and again on her arrival back at the prison. Both searches were conducted in the reception area at Holloway.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of daily strip searches undergone by Miss Roisin McAliskey since her transfer from Northern Ireland to HMPs Belmarsh and Holloway; what were the intervals between each search; what(a) contraband goods and (b) other materials were found on her body; and if such searches included the bodily orifices. [10639]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 13 January 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 16 January 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about strip searches undergone by Miss Roisin McAliskey.Miss McAliskey has not been subject to daily strip searches. She has been strip searched whenever she has moved in or out of the prison to court, hospital or transfer. She has also been strip searched before and after every visit. This is the normal practice for a prisoner of her security category. At Belmarsh, Miss McAliskey was strip searched four times in connection with visits and four times in the 367W course of movements in or out of the prison. Up to 20 December, she had been strip searched 31 times at Holloway, 24 in connection with visits and seven in the course of movements.No contraband or other items have been found. Her mouth and ears have been searched, but she has not been subject to any internal body searches.