Prison Commissioner John Prescod has revealed 30 percent of prisoners randomly screened for drugs are testing positive.

But he has ruled out screening every visitor for drug smuggling because he does not want people to feel targeted.

He said the problem was worse at the Prison Farm where inmates are allowed out on work release while figures at Westgate were lower.

Last month a $40,000 ion scanning machine, which picks up drug traces on people, was installed at the Prison Farm similar to the one already at Westgate. The Prison Service also has a cheaper, portable machine.

He said: “It's nice to have a reserve. We have had several break-downs. We had someone come over to rectify it.”

He said a breakdown of Westgate's machine in March had now been fixed.

Asked why scans weren't being done on everyone going through the doors at Westgate similar to the way everyone is screened by metal detectors at airports, Mr. Prescod said: “We don't want people to feel they are being targeted in any way.”

Instead random tests are done - for example one in three people entering or people with names beginning with the letters A-H.

Unless drugs are physically found on visitors they are allowed to walk away if the scanner keeps showing positive.

Budget figures revealed 75 percent of prisoners were testing positive for drugs when first arriving at Westgate.

“When we do random checks it's 30 percent. That's encouraging at least.”

He said drugs were prevalent in the workplace. “Prisoners get pressured.”

Those taking narcotics are taken off work release and go into relapse prevention programmes and counselling said Mr. Prescod.

“We help them to re-focus. We might end up taking them off work release permanently but we have to give them an opportunity to try again but if they repeat they will be sent back to Westgate.”

Drugs showing up include heroin, cocaine and marijuana said Mr. Prescod. “I might see a report of 40 tested and maybe eight or nine turn up positive. That kind of number we're looking at.”

Asked how drugs could be getting into high-security Westgate, he said: “We are a little puzzled.”

Budget figures showed around 69 staff members were screened daily for contact, resulting in over 25,000 screenings for the year. A total of 33 first screenings revealed contact with controlled substances but second screenings gave 33 negative results.

Of the 1,500 visitors to the correctional facilities screened, 118 visitors screened positive for contact with controlled substances - 23 of those failed subsequent screenings and were denied entry. Four visitors refused to be searched and were denied entry.

Mr. Prescod said drugs in prison were a worldwide phenomenon. “They are nothing unique to Bermuda.”

Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Maxwell Burgess said: “We can be unique, we can test everyone going in.

“We have an obligation as a community to do all we can people involved in drugs get weaned off.

“We cannot risk three out of ten prisoners getting straight back on to drugs when they leave prison because the party never stopped.”

Mr. Burgess said it had to be easier to stop the flow of drugs in prison than in the outside world.

“Random testing is not working if three out of ten are still on them.”

He said visitors should feel it was a small price to pay to get scanned every time they went in. A blanket policy would mean that no-one would feel targeted said Mr. Burgess.