Mandatory drug testing, a new ion scanner and tightened perimeter security are part of the renewed efforts to combat drugs within Westgate Correctional Facility.

Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer said four staff had completed training with the $40,000 ion scanner, which should be up and running this month.

The machine, which is already used by customs, picks up traces of drugs particles.

Mr. Dyer said: "We're fine-tuning it at the moment so as not to get false positives.

"If you touch a $100 bill and it has drugs on it the machine will pick it up.

"We will use it on every person who comes through the gate.

"Whether they be prison officer or visitor, they will be subjected to this.

"It's more reliable than dogs because dogs will get tired but you can go all day with the machine.

"We would probably need half a dozen dogs, but we have gone for the electronic type.

"We are looking at urine screening,'' continued Mr. Dyer.

However, he noted that legislation to make this mandatory, rather than voluntary as is the case now, will not be in place for some months. He said: "If we can do what they do with the breath sample -- if you refuse to give one they assume it's a positive.

"We will continue to use dogs sporadically and we are always doing busts, but then you can only get the things you can see.

"We are looking at tidying up the perimeter so people can't get so close.

"There's evidence that people throw stuff over the wall.'' He added: "We're finding stuff, but we are not sure how much stuff comes over.'' Mr. Dyer said all vehicles were checked when they entered the facility but dogs were not used to sniff around them.

Currently the prison uses dogs, borrowed from the Police, on a sporadic basis.

But Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said: "The prison having it's own dogs is something we are considering.'' Mr. Dyer said: "There is a prison officer watching all the time when they bring stuff in. We urge visitors not to take handbags or large things in.

"And we will search people. We can strip you right down and search you and if you refuse, we can send you out and the Police will do the search for us.

"The Prison Act gives me the chance to search anybody who comes in prison.

"Prisoners who have been in contact with visitors will continue to be strip searched. We will step this up. Staff are not sacrosanct as far as searching is concerned.'' However he denied claims that drug smuggling by prison officers was common. He said: "I have a very large desk and all kinds of things come across it.

Occasionally a name gets mentioned.

"We have only had one where the Police were involved and he was found to have drugs. He is no longer working with the prison service.

"We have zero tolerance as far as drugs are concerned.

"I get shared names, but unless I have evidence to support it up I take it as information and I won't go further than that.'' New efforts are being made to deal with the prison's drug users with Mr. Dyer agreeing that seven out of ten new inmates revealed signs of recent drug taking. However he revealed there was a waiting list for many users to get help. He said: "We don't always have sufficient resources to offer the programme which addresses these issues.

"But we are picking away at it as we progress. The new substance abuse programme is separated in modules so you can come in at any time, it will help get rid of the backlog.

Dyer acts to curb drugs "It's relatively new, we're still working on it. When people come in some get on programmes within weeks, some wait longer.

"Some go outside for counselling, so what we can't do in-house we contract out.

"But we certainly don't have everyone who we know is a substance abuser in a programme at the present time.'' Asked whether drug programmes should be mandatory for those convicted of drug related offences, Mr. Dyer said: "Some people think if you take the horse to water sufficient times they will drink, but the persons who are forced to be in it will be disruptive and persons who want to be in it will be disadvantaged.

"My belief is that once we get the alternatives going and prison can involve some serious sanctions within prison, the numbers should go down.

"If we try to get sufficient programme people, you are probably looking at 50 percent more staff, and that's not realistic.

"But if we can move to a mind set where prison is a last option rather than a first, we will have fewer people incarcerated and we can have more quality programmes and address a greater percentage of people in custody.'' Ms Cox said this was being looked at by alternative sentencing working groups.

Edward Dyer The revolving door: The entrance to Westgate