Criminal Justice Act 1991

82 Powers and duties of prisoner custody officers acting in pursuance of such arrangements

(1) A prisoner custody officer acting in pursuance of prisoner escort arrangements shall have the following powers, namely—

(a) to search in accordance with rules made by the Secretary of State any prisoner for whose delivery or custody he is responsible in pursuance of the arrangements; and

(b) to search any other person who is in or is seeking to enter any place where any such prisoner is or is to be held, and any article in the possession of such a person.

(2) The powers conferred by subsection (1)(b) above to search a person shall not be construed as authorising a prisoner custody officer to require a person to remove any of his clothing other than an outer coat, jacket or gloves.

(3) A prisoner custody officer shall have the following duties as respects prisoners for whose delivery or custody he is responsible in pursuance of prisoner escort arrangements, namely—

(a) to prevent their escape from lawful custody;

(b) to prevent, or detect and report on, the commission or attempted commission by them of other unlawful acts;

(c) to ensure good order and discipline on their part;

(d) to attend to their wellbeing; and

(e) to give effect to any directions as to their treatment which are given by a court,

and the Secretary of State may make rules with respect to the performance by prisoner custody officers of their duty under paragraph (d) above.

(4) It shall also be the duty of a prisoner custody officer who is on any premises in which the Crown Court is sitting to give effect to any order of that Court made under section 34A of the 1973 Act (power of Court to order search of persons before it).

(5) The powers conferred by subsection (1) above, and the powers arising by virtue of subsections (3) and (4) above, shall include power to use reasonable force where necessary.

(6) The power to make rules under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.