http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/33/section/152Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994An Act to make further provision in relation to criminal justice (including employment in the prison service); to amend or extend the criminal law and powers for preventing crime and enforcing that law; to amend the Video Recordings Act 1984; and for purposes connected with those purposes.1994-11-03texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-10Expert Participation2026-06-29 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994s. 51(10)(a) (ia)Criminal Justice Act 2003Sch. 36 para. 11(3)s. 336(3) (4)Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994s. 25(2)(ka)-(kc)Crime and Policing Act 2026Sch. 11 para. 6(3)s. 255(1) Part XII1521In the Prison Act 1952, after section 8, there shall be inserted the following section—8A1An authorised employee at a prison shall have the power to search any prisoner for the purpose of ascertaining whether he has any unauthorised property on his person.2An authorised employee searching a prisoner by virtue of this section—ashall not be entitled to require a prisoner to remove any of his clothing other than an outer coat, jacket, headgear, gloves and footwear;bmay use reasonable force where necessary; andcmay seize and detain any unauthorised property found on the prisoner in the course of the search.3In this section “authorised employee” means an employee of a description for the time being authorised by the governor to exercise the powers conferred by this section.4The governor of a prison shall take such steps as he considers appropriate to notify to prisoners the descriptions of persons who are for the time being authorised to exercise the powers conferred by this section.5In this section “unauthorised property”, in relation to a prisoner, means property which the prisoner is not authorised by prison rules or by the governor to have in his possession or, as the case may be, in his possession in a particular part of the prison..2In the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989, after section 41, there shall be inserted the following section—41A1An authorised employee at a prison shall have the power to search any prisoner for the purpose of ascertaining whether he has any unauthorised property on his person.2An authorised employee searching a prisoner by virtue of this section—ashall not be entitled to require a prisoner to remove any of his clothing other than an outer coat, jacket, headgear, gloves and footwear;bmay use reasonable force where necessary; andcmay seize and detain any unauthorised property found on the prisoner in the course of the search.3In this section “authorised employee” means an employee of a description for the time being authorised by the governor to exercise the powers conferred by this section.4The governor of a prison shall take such steps as he considers appropriate to notify to prisoners the descriptions of employees who are for the time being authorised employees.5In this section—“employee” means an employee (not being an officer of a prison) appointed under section 2(1) of this Act; and“unauthorised property”, in relation to a prisoner, means property which the prisoner is not authorised by rules under section 39 of this Act or by the governor to have in his possession or, as the case may be, in his possession in a particular part of the prison..S. 152(1) extends to England and Wales only; s. 152(2) extends to Scotland only see s. 172(7)(13)1952 c. 52. 1989 c. 45.