So that would make it okay?
LadyJane, these officers have to deal with everything imaginable. If they know this woman, what type of things she has been known to do prior to this, they may have had good reason to suspect her of hiding things in strange places.
Evidently the officers are saying that none of this took place. I would also say that if something like this were to take place, it should be conducted at the station under as delicate of circumstances as this activity would allow.
Would this be okay, as I have described? Sadly, yes.
Out in the field, I’d have to say I don’t believe so. If this woman has that sort of history at this age, there’s no telling what unfortunate situations she’s been in prior to this, and how much worse they may have been than this.