Authority for detention
17.—(1) The clothing and possessions of a child shall be searched on reception into a centre and a record kept by the manager.
(a)Where a manager has reason to believe that a child has in his possession a prohibited article or substance and that article or substance may only be discovered by means of a search the manager may direct accordingly.
(b)A child shall not be required to remove clothing for the purposes of a search in the sight of a person other than the members of staff conducting the search.
(c)A search shall be carried out in the most sensitive manner possible and shall not be conducted by a member of staff acting alone.
(d)Staff conducting a search for which the child is required to remove clothing shall be of the same gender as the child.
(e)Where a child refuses to co-operate with a search, the minimum effort necessary to effect the search may be used and such use shall be recorded. Rule 29 shall apply to such a search.
(2) This rule does not permit the search of a body cavity, but a child may be required to open his mouth to permit a visual inspection.