Recurring concern

Unreliable strip-search arrangements in custody

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First reported 8 Nov 2016•Latest report 24 May 2018

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in custody strip-search arrangements, including availability and suitability of facilities, definitions and thresholds for clothing removal, procedural guidance, staff understanding and implementation of safeguards governing strip searches.

Not included

  • Excludes general searches, cell searches, staff searches or prohibited-item screening where strip searching in custody is not the identified process.
  • Excludes intimate searches involving body orifices where the assertion does not also concern the strip-search process or its boundary with clothing-removal searches.
  • Excludes generic custody staffing, training, policy or facility deficiencies unless they directly impair the safe and lawful conduct of strip searches.
  • Excludes failures in recording or acting on search findings after a strip search has been reliably conducted.
Reports
2

Distinct published reports

Individual concerns
2

A report can raise multiple concerns

Date range
2016–2018

First to latest report issue date

Stated actions
0

Described in published responses

Reports over time

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Department of Health and Social Care1
Metropolitan Police Service1
Ministry of Justice1
Serco Group plc1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

  1. South London

    AI-generated summary

    Rosalind Flett · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Rosalind Flett, who was detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act and subject to enhanced observation and regular searches, used a razor blade to make a deep laceration to her neck in full view of nursing staff and died shortly thereafter. The report identified an ambiguity in search policies about whether staff could ask her to remove her bra, despite her history of concealing razor blades and previous incidents of cutting.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Ambiguity in search policies concerning clothing removal short of an intimate search

    Wider context from the report

    “The Trust’s policy on searching was made in accordance with the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice. However, there appeared to be a gap between “an advanced search” which was limited to a pat down of clothing and did not allow for clothing to be removed to underwear, and an “intimate search” which deals with items concealed in a body orifice. Staff were therefore given the impression that they could not ask Ms Flett to remove her bra for searching. Since the conclusion of the inquest I have been informed that the local Trust search policy is to be amended. However, the ambiguity appears to exist in other Trust policies, and I therefore make this report in order to bring the matter to wider attention. ”

    Source location

    Rosalind Flett · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

  2. Inner West London

    AI-generated summary

    Ms Michelle Ann Lawrence · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Ms Michelle Ann Lawrence died at home on 2 May 2015 from respiratory failure after taking multiple prescription and illegal sedative drugs, following periods in police and private custody. The principal concerns included failures to identify concealed drugs, limited strip-searching and CCTV facilities, inadequate checking of custody-suite toilets, insufficient detail in risk records, and the lack of independent investigation into deaths following release from private custody providers.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Unavailability of strip-search facilities in SERCO custody

    Wider context from the report

    “(3) That facilities for strip searching appear to be virtually non-existent for those in the custody of SERCO. ”

    Source location

    Ms Michelle Ann Lawrence · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 3 · concerns

    Open source report
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Data last updated 7 September 2026