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Visitor searches

Anyone going into a prison can be searched. This includes babies and children, so it is important to reassure your child about the possibility of being searched before you visit a prison.

Children under 16 are searched only with the consent of their parent or carer. If you refuse to let your baby or child be searched, you may be refused entry.

Babies and children are always searched in a way that ensures their health and well-being is protected. When staff suspect that children are being used to smuggle drugs into a prison, they will treat this as suspected child abuse and may inform the Police and Child Protection Services.

A leaflet explaining search procedures in more detail will be available at most prisons.

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