§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the procedures for searching for illegal drugs(a) within Chelmsford Prison and (b) in the visitors area of the prison; and if he will make a statement. [25288]
§ Mr. George HowarthIn the main prison, prisoners' cells and common areas are randomly searched by staff at frequent and irregular intervals. They are regularly aided by the prison's drug dog.
All prisoners are strip searched when entering and leaving the prison. When leaving a wing or activity area, prisoners are subject to rub down searches. Staff, official visitors and legal representatives are subject to random rub down searches when entering the prison. If there are grounds for suspecting the presence of drugs in a particular area or on a particular person, a targeted search will be conducted.
In the visits area of Chelmsford prison, social visitors are subject to rub down searches and their baggage is x-rayed before entering the visits area. A drug dog attends on a regular basis and sits with its handler in the entrance to the visits area. This dog is trained to detect discreetly and indicate to is handler if a visitor is carrying drugs. It