T HAD to stand naked while they checked my clothes. Prison officers rub my hair and ears and like an animal | have to lift my feet so they can inspect them t00'.
That's Ella O'Dwyer, now in Durham prison, described her experience of strip-searching while on remand in Brixton, where she was on average stripped 50 times a month.
In the four years between ineir introauchon In November 1982 November 1986, 2000 strip searches were made of Armagh later Maghaberry There were never W1SU11. more than 30 women held at any one time.
They are justified grounds of "security'. In al that time oniv one five perfume were ever found on prisoners.
Now systematic strip-searching has been stepped up in British prisons. Irish women in British jails, are immediate targets, but others have been subjected to forced strip-searching: black Williais rested at Greenham and Faslane after disarmament demonstrations miners' wives.
Anne Matthews, leader of Southwark Council, recently visited Ella O'Dwyer the methods: 'Durham wing was originally used in 1961 as a special punishment block for male escapees. In 1965 the wing was converted for the arrival of the train robbers and the Kray brothers.
'The conversion includes dog surveillance other forms of maximum securitour sets of electronicaliy lau gone numerable other and gates, guarded all the time, been photographed, been checked over with a metal detector, then stared at by two warders during every minute of my visit Yet she knew that Ella would be stripped when she left.
Strip-searching designed to produce the anxiety SurCS. and fear through what all women who have suffered it have called humiliation' 'sexual violence'. has resulted severe weight loss among women prisoners, marae. menstrual problems other ilInesses:
Many groups Ireland have stated their opposition to strip searching. People such as Peter Barry, Irish Minister of Foreign Antal Cardinal O'Fiach have called it degrading and inhuman.
In Britain many trade unions have policy against as does the National Organisation of Women and the National Union of Students. So has although again it undyby the kind of statement in its election manifesto. 'We will replace present strip-searching practice with more effective and acceptable security measures Although many of the arguments against strip-searching have been won, ' the practice goes on - and with increasing frequency.
1S vital that this in humane treatment of women is stoppeu.
DURHAM
Saturday 13th June 2pm CRECHE AVAILABLE electing places for black, Jewish, lesbian, Irish, political clarity of conference At present the Student stand on a platform had the written support of half the delegates. Clearly women's conference is not prioritised by NUS and it needs more time and resources.
Conference also voted to introduce a system of Line women's committer reserving , disabled women and women with children who would be elected by closed caucuses. This means that the number of candidates for women's committee will be greatly reduced and roughly two-thirds of conference will not have a vote on eight places out of nine. This will limit not extend democracy and National Organisation of Labour Students do not stand a slate for elections and no candidates apart from those of Campaign of support for
Socialist Action 5 June 1987 THE most important issue a - this election is the Thatche government's assault on strength of the labour movement the that
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Stop strip searches in Maghaberry and Durham 5 IL STRIP SEARCHES End imperialist violence against women