Prisons: Body Searches

(asked on 19th January 2022) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the revised protocol on searching of the person will be published; whether prison officers of the male sex who identify as transgender, with or without a gender recognition certificate, will be permitted to rubdown or strip search female offenders; and whether the revised protocols will also apply to youth custody services.


Answered by
Victoria Atkins Portrait
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This question was answered on 26th January 2022

The national policy on the searching of prisoners, staff and visitors (PSI 07/2016 – Searching of the Person) is currently under review, and to allow for extensive consultation, is expected to be published later this year.

The updated policy will include directions on transgender staff, with and without Gender Recognition Certificates, conducting searches.

In reviewing the policy, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is consulting with the Government’s Legal Department, HMPPS Equalities Team and representatives from external women’s and transgender groups. The new policy will be compliant with the Equality Act 2010, Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the European Convention of Human Rights.

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