"mini-riot'' at Westgate Prison, Health Minister the Hon. Harry Soares said yesterday.

Mr. Soares said he has ordered a review of Prison Servce policies on prisoner attendance at funerals, prison security classifications and the safe keeping of keys.

And he has instructed his Permanent Secretary to work with Prison Commissioner Mr. Edward Dyer to establish new procedures so that the chances of a similar outbreak are diminished.

Mr. Soares said he had reviewed Mr. Dyer's report about the outbreak of violence at the prison after a maximum security prisoner was not allowed to attend his father's funeral.

During the incident a set of keys went missing but Mr. Soares said he had studied the Commissioner's report.

"At no time during this incident was there any danger of an escape from custody,'' he said.

"Keys which went astray during the incident and were later recovered, were not capable of allowing access to any prison exit nor would they open any door to a high security area within the prison complex.'' Mr. Soares said consideration would also be given to disciplinary action being taken against prison officers and the inmates that were involved in the incident.

"The public should appreciate, however,'' the statement continued, "That prison officers must deal every day of their lives with violent and difficult offenders who have been incarcerated because of the danger they pose to society.

"It is a stressful and difficult job which prison officers in the main carry out with great care and compassion.'' He said the Commissioner's report recommended that prison policy regarding prisoner attendance at funerals, prison security categorisation of prisoners and key safe keeping should be re-examined in light of the incident.

Earlier this month Prison officers staged a sick out in protest of what they claimed was inconsistent decision making on the part of Administration, under staffing and a decrease in educational programmes for inmates.

Officers said there had been grievances with senior staff members since Westgate opened.

And officers said this point was stressed during a meeting with Chief Officer Ms Delores Amaral in November. But nothing has been done about it.