Offenders' strip-search condemned

Anne Owers, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, said the inmates at HMP Werrington in Stoke-on-Trent had their clothes cut off by prison officers.

Her report followed a surprise inspection at the institution and criticised its overall safety record and anti-bullying policies.

Many of the problems at the 150-inmate centre were caused by a population crisis, she said.

She said "disgruntled" young prisoners from London were forced to move to the centre, leading to disruption.

Strip-searching on arrival was routine, and the institution's record on self-harm "needed improvement", she said.

The report said: "We were... appalled by a video recording of the strip-searching by force of a refractory young person, which included cutting off his clothing despite his protestations that he was willing to comply.

"Whatever the provocation, excessive reaction of this kind is unacceptable. Though it had continued to improve in a number of areas, the weaknesses we identified in safety were serious and required urgent management attention."

Phil Wheatley, Director-General of the Prison Service, defended the use of forced strip-searches. He said: "Generally this is a good report which charts decent progress at an establishment dealing with difficult individuals."

"As to the incident involving the strip-search of the young person, I have seen the video and reviewed the matter in great detail. I am convinced that at no point in the process was he compliant and that the staff involved dealt with the incident correctly in the circumstances, when faced by a difficult and disturbed young man."