Prison drugs searches could be revamped as officials try to stay one step ahead of users and peddlers inside Westgate.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said a debriefing following Wednesday's failed swoop on the prison could lead to improvements in the way operations are carried out.

She was speaking as Prison Service officials and Police met to examine what went wrong when armed Emergency Response Team officers were barred from entering Westgate to assist with a drugs search.

And she admitted the confrontation outside the facility defeated the object of the operation, giving ample warning to those inside that a search was imminent.

Although she said she doubted whether ERT would be involved in the future, unless there was a threat of danger, she said Police would continue to play a role in the bid to rid Westgate of the drugs scourge.

"Police will continue to have involvement but it is not always going to be same scale of involvement,'' she said. "Joint operations in the future are going to continue on an unnanounced basis, a need to know basis.

"I would be surprised if the ERT was involved in the future unless there was any danger.'' Ms Cox said she was expecting to hear a full report from yesterday's meeting, and stressed that they would not be deterred by the setback.

"While it is unfortunate it didn't go the right way this time, this isn't just a fly-by-night issue.

"It was mis-communication, not through somebody's fault, it was wires getting crossed.

"I would expect to be informed of what went wrong to be assured it won't happen again.'' A partial search of the prison was completed yesterday, but only of administration areas and by plain-clothed officers with sniffer dogs. The ERT had to wait outside whilst the operation was carried out.

Ms Cox said there were minimal seizures but did not disclose what they were.

It is understood Prison officials were concerned that the presence of armed and uniformed ERT members could incite trouble inside the facility.

She said Police would continue to take part in the searches, which would also serve as a rebuttal to any possible inferences if the raids were conducted by prison officers only.

"We have to make sure we accomplish what we set out to do, what happened was a communication hiccup.

"There are two strands with the drugs investigations, one can be through the prisons, one can be a directive given to the Police Commissioner so they then take action.

"It is unfortunate it didn't go as smoothly as we would have liked. The prison wasn't to know beforehand. We try to ensure there is an element of surprise, that was what was ironic, when people stay outside everybody can see you.

"We will see how it can be improved, make more operational effort to make sure we get the best value.''