Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure prison inmates are only searched my officers of the same sex.

The national policy on the searching of prisoners, staff and visitors (PSI 07/2016 – Searching of the Person) is currently under review and a revised version is intended to be published later this year.

The national policy that allows for male officers to conduct rub down searches on the same sex only and female officers to conduct rub down searches on both sexes has been in place since 1992. Full searches must only be conducted by a person of the same sex.

The updated policy will also include direction on transgender staff conducting searches. This will account for staff with or without a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC).

In reviewing the policy, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has consulted with the Government’s Legal Department and HMPPS Equalities Team. The new policy will be compliant with the Equality Act 2010, Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the European Convention of Human Rights.