P2 uniformed public services UNIT 21
Gemma Habgood P2 Searches in a custodial environment
Slide 2
Today I am going to talk to you about the types and methods of searches conducted by staff in a custodial environment and also control measures in a custodial environment. Firstly, I am going to talk to you about searches in a custodial environment. Searches are very important in prisons overall for security purposes. Searches can be planned or random or part of the system of the prison, routine or intelligence-led. Everyone entering the prison needs to be searched before they are allowed in the prison, including staff. The type of searches depends on many things such as, the risk of safety that person may cause and what type of category the prison is. High security prisons, that hold Category A prisoners, will routinely search all staff and visitors. There are also x-ray machines to look in bags, coats and shoes of people that cross the security gates of the prison. In Category C prisons, visitors and staff aren’t routinely searched before entering the prison. Items that aren’t allowed to enter prisons are; metal, cutlery, scissors, computers, mobile phones and obviously alcohol, drugs and weapons. All goods that are arriving to the prison have to be screened, even post. This is extremely important because many stuff can be smuggled into the items, for example drugs can be smuggled into the prison by being concealed in the spine binding of books and magazines. Prison staff also search the prisoners cells and other parts of the building on a routine and intelligence-led basis. They also search the perimeter of the prisons walls outside to make sure nothing bad was thrown into the prison, for example weapons. Searching can also involve certain detectors and also dogs, for dangerous items that have slipped through the security checks. Staff have to respect individuals and their property during searching them.
Slide 3
Rub-down searches are used to check that a person entering the
Slide 2
Today I am going to talk to you about the types and methods of searches conducted by staff in a custodial environment and also control measures in a custodial environment. Firstly, I am going to talk to you about searches in a custodial environment. Searches are very important in prisons overall for security purposes. Searches can be planned or random or part of the system of the prison, routine or intelligence-led. Everyone entering the prison needs to be searched before they are allowed in the prison, including staff. The type of searches depends on many things such as, the risk of safety that person may cause and what type of category the prison is. High security prisons, that hold Category A prisoners, will routinely search all staff and visitors. There are also x-ray machines to look in bags, coats and shoes of people that cross the security gates of the prison. In Category C prisons, visitors and staff aren’t routinely searched before entering the prison. Items that aren’t allowed to enter prisons are; metal, cutlery, scissors, computers, mobile phones and obviously alcohol, drugs and weapons. All goods that are arriving to the prison have to be screened, even post. This is extremely important because many stuff can be smuggled into the items, for example drugs can be smuggled into the prison by being concealed in the spine binding of books and magazines. Prison staff also search the prisoners cells and other parts of the building on a routine and intelligence-led basis. They also search the perimeter of the prisons walls outside to make sure nothing bad was thrown into the prison, for example weapons. Searching can also involve certain detectors and also dogs, for dangerous items that have slipped through the security checks. Staff have to respect individuals and their property during searching them.
Slide 3
Rub-down searches are used to check that a person entering the