8. Monitoring Risk In Specific Situations Assessing areas where searches take place The location and set-up of search areas are important in assessing the risks of SGBV. Generally speaking, abuse is more likely to take place if searches take place in an isolated area, and there may be more risk if the door to the room is locked or closed. However, this must be balanced with the need for searches to take place in full privacy, in a space that is out of view of others. While CCTV or audio recording might prevent abuse during body searches, it can also be degrading for those being searched, and recordings may be used inappropriately. Monitors should, therefore, consider the following factors: • Where are the different search areas in the facility (including visitor search areas) located? Are they particularly isolated? • In what conditions do strip and cavity searches take place? Do the location of doors and windows allow for full privacy? What is the lighting situation in the room? • Is the door usually closed or locked during strip and cavity searches? Is there a panic button in the room that someone can press to get attention if they need? • Is there any CCTV or audio recording in the search rooms? If so, who monitors this material and how are these persons selected? • Are there separate search rooms for men/women and adults/juveniles? • Do body searches ever take place at night-time? Assessing the way searches are conducted Monitors should be able to witness the way “pat down” or “frisk” searches are conducted, and are likely to be subjected to such search procedures themselves. It is possible, however, that staff will conduct searches differently when they are being observed or when they are searching official visitors. Monitors should not attempt to observe strip and body cavity searches being carried out. In order to gain a good understanding of how searches are conducted, monitors could seek the following information from staff/management, detainees/prisoners and prison visitors: Information from staff/management • How many staff members are usually present during pat down/frisk searches, and strip and body cavity searches? • How are strip searches conducted? Is the two-step strip search procedure in use?19 19 The two-step strip search is when the upper and lower clothes are removed in separate stages, so the detainee/prisoner does not have to be fully naked in front of detention/prison staff at any one time. 46