144Search of persons in lawful custody

144 Search of persons in lawful custody (1) A member of the Police Force may search a person in lawful custody, including the clothing the person is wearing and any property in the person's immediate possession, and may use the force that is reasonably necessary to conduct the search. (2) A member may seize any restricted weapon or other article capable of being used to inflict injury on a person or assist an escape from custody, or anything relating to an offence, found as a result of a search under subsection (1). (3) Subsection (1) does not authorise a member to require a person to remove any clothing that he is wearing unless the member has reasonable grounds for believing that the removal and examination and detention of such clothing may afford evidence of the commission of an offence, and the person is provided with adequate clothing to replace the clothing removed. (4) Any search carried out pursuant to subsection (1) shall, wherever practicable, be carried out by a member of the same sex as the person searched. (5) Nothing in this section shall be taken to prevent the search of the person of a person, or of property under the control of a person and the removal from that person of any property for safe keeping upon his being admitted as an inmate of a lock-up, custodial correctional facility (as defined in section 11(1)(a) of the Correctional Services Act 2014) or like place after being charged with an offence.