Clive Booth wants to know why visitors to court are asked to open their own bags and take out items as part of security checks. This is HMCS policy and is common practice among many organisations. The reasons are simple: it avoids possible injury if a knife or sharp object is in the bag; most people prefer to remove their own items rather than have security guards going through their bags; and it avoids possible accusations of theft, damage, or planting an item.

The security guard is the first point of contact with the court and some visitors will be anxious about the experience of going to court. The job of the security guard is to quickly, effectively, subtly and courteously make necessary checks on bags and let the visitor through. They are trained officers doing a difficult job which sometimes exposes them to abuse and physical violence.

Alan Fenton, Director of estates, Her Majesty’s Courts Service