Van, I've had pat-downs of various kinds (always by polite and discreet female officers) in a private room. They select a visitor at random and one goes behind a small screen or into a little room. They take down one's hair (I used to have mine tied up) and feel inside one's bra. In B Cat prisons (I've been several times to Parkhurst for example) they use hand-held metal detectors and arches, and drug-sniffing dogs. Even babies must have their nappies removed and a Prison one put on! Nonetheless, I've seen visitors passing drugs over on their visit many a time. But a full internal body search is not permitted. And at any stage one can refuse any type of search, whereupon the Visit is cancelled. I've been in Wormwood Scrubs, Parkhurst, The Mount, Highpoint, Blundeston, Wayland, Hollesley Bay (an open Prison) and Norwich. The Officers know very well who is likely to be carrying something, and if you're pukka you've nothing to be nervous about. I found them professional and polite.