AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2000
Qld: Watchhouse manager defends strip searches
BRISBANE, Feb 10 AAP - A police watchhouse manager today cited an attempt by an inmate
to smuggle in a bullet to defend the controversial use of strip searching.
Queensland police Acting Inspector Ray Knight told a Criminal Justice Commission inquiry
that a routine search of a so-called "at risk" prisoner's cell at the Brisbane watchhouse
last week resulted in a bullet being found in a toilet bowl.
"I could make a gun out of that just with other materials I would be given in the watchhouse
as a prisoner," Acting Inspector Knight told the inquiry.
The CJC inquiry into police strip searching procedures has been prompted by recent
allegations of inappropriate searches conducted at some Queensland watchhouses.
At the beginning of the hearing, CJC chairman Brendan Butler said it would not be a
forum to belittle the police but would provide constructive suggestions for reform by
the end of this month.
During his evidence, Acting Inspector Knight said his main role as watchhouse manager
was to ensure inmates were secure and safe, and that sometimes involved strip searches.
He said strip searches had uncovered items such as knives, razor blades, drugs, syringes
and pieces of steel.
The hearing was told the items had been discovered in every conceivable location on
and in a person's body.
The two-day inquiry also will hear evidence from civil liberties groups and the female
prisoners' lobby group Sisters Inside.
AAP dn/sc/wjf/bwl
KEYWORD: STRIP
2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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