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Detainees get strip-search form

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Detainees in police custody are being given a form explaining the reasons and scope for intrusive searches, officials told lawmakers at a Legislative Council panel meeting yesterday.

Detainees could raise concerns or objections on the new 'custody search form', which has been in use since the beginning of the year, before officers conduct the searches.

The introduction of the form was seen as fine-tuning a police guideline issued in July that regulated officers' handling of searches of detainees following criticism that the force was abusing its power by conducting unnecessary strip-searches.

Three parameters for the extent of a body search - from 'non-removal of clothing' to 'removal of underwear' - were introduced in the guidelines. Officers are required to record the reasons for the searches.

Police figures revealed that 12,043 detainees underwent body searches from July 1 to September 31 last year, and 1,674 were ordered to remove their underwear.

Among the main reasons for strip-searches, 34.2 per cent involved suspicion of drug possession, 15.7 per cent involved alleged illegal immigrants and people who overstayed visas, and 13.5 per cent involved theft suspects.

The principal assistant secretary for security, Apollonia Liu Lee Ho-kei, said the form, available in 11 languages, detailed the scope of strip-searches and clearly stated whether it involved 'looking into underwear', 'partial removal' or 'full removal'.

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