Prisons Regulations · 2002 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Custody of Prisoners
53. Search of prisoners
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2026.
A prison officer may search a prisoner —
when the prisoner is being admitted into the prison;
when the prison officer reasonably suspects that the prisoner has any prohibited article in the prisoner’s possession; or
in any situation specified in the Prison Standing Orders.
A prison officer may use any equipment that is approved by the Commissioner to search a prisoner.
A female prisoner must not be searched except by a female prison officer and the search must be conducted in a manner specified in the Prison Standing Orders.
A prison officer who finds a prohibited article on a prisoner must take the prohibited article from the prisoner.
Subregulation 1
A prison officer may search a prisoner —
when the prisoner is being admitted into the prison;
when the prison officer reasonably suspects that the prisoner has any prohibited article in the prisoner’s possession; or
in any situation specified in the Prison Standing Orders.
Subregulation 2
A prison officer may use any equipment that is approved by the Commissioner to search a prisoner.
Subregulation 3
A female prisoner must not be searched except by a female prison officer and the search must be conducted in a manner specified in the Prison Standing Orders.
Subregulation 4
A prison officer who finds a prohibited article on a prisoner must take the prohibited article from the prisoner.