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WQ.427/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS
BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 8th OCTOBER 2019
Question
Will the Minister advise members how many people who were arrested or detained in police cells over the last five years, if any, have had their clothing completely removed from them whilst they were in custody, giving details of the reason for their detention and the reason for removing their clothing and stating how many of any such people were examined by a doctor before such actions were taken?
Answer
The table below shows how many people who were arrested or detained in police cells over the last five years went through a strip search or an intimate search.
A strip search is a search involving the removal of more than outer clothing. An intimate search is a search which consists of physical examination of a person's body orifices other than mouth. Intimate searches are extremely rare and normally conducted by a doctor. Strip search and intimate search are governed by Code C of the Police Procedures and Criminal Evidence (Codes of Practice) (Jersey) Order 2004.
Information regarding the details of a person's detention, the reason for removing their clothing and whether they were examined by a doctor is contained within that person's custody record and is not held centrally. It has not been possible to review all 385 custody records to extract this information.
The most common reasons for a person to be strip or intimate searched is if a police officer, of appropriate rank, has reasonable grounds for believing that the person has a weapon or drugs concealed on their person or that they are threatening self-harm and it is believed to be necessary for their safety.