General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "For an educated middle-class woman to face public arrest and a strip search is almost unimaginable" [View all]intaglio
(8,170 posts)The joys of the holding cell
Firstly, drug addicts do not carry round non-metallic shanks as part of their everyday kit; yes, they are made when inside permanently but not as street wear, so a simple metal detector search is enough. Non-metallic knives are easily made in prison and so you do not carry them with you. And if a drug addict wants to kill you smashing your head against the cell wall 5 or 6 times is usually plenty.
Secondly most do not carry guns and knives stuck into body cavities. Not only is it dangerous, uncomfortable and really difficult when you want to take a crap, it also stops you carrying those essentials of life (for a prisoner) of drugs and cell phones. Not only that but mostly if a gun or a knife is really, really needed on the street and if it is stuck in your ass or vagina it makes getting at it really, really difficult to get at them. Putting such items into your body in a rush whilst being arrested is a bit difficult as well. and, as noted before, they're going to be metallic
Thirdly, get caught with a gun or a knife and you have just aggravated the offense you were arrested for.