Prisons: Dogs
Commons · Question 47974 · Tabled 24 Apr 2025 · Ministry of Justice · Official record
Answered 2 May 2025
Question
Asked by Rupert Lowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what exemptions exist in prisons for Muslims not to be searched by sniffer dogs on religious grounds.
Answer
Answered by Sir Nicholas Dakin, 2 May 2025
No prisoners are exempt from searches by sniffer dogs.During a cell search, care must be taken when handling religious artefacts, and search dogs must not come into contact with religious artefacts or holy books. Prisoners must be asked to point these out...