tonight.

And they may call for an investigation into the management of the Prison Department.

It follows concern at the way officers at the Ferry Reach Prison Farm were searched for drugs.

Policemen with sniffer dogs lined up about 10 Prison officers in a yard last Friday.

Tonight's meeting of the Prison Officers Association starts at 7 p.m.

Association chairman Mr. Russell Richardson will put forward a "personal'' recommendation.

He wants officers to meet Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

And he will recommend that his members ask Sir John to launch an inquiry into the running of the Prison Department.

Mr. Richardson said the association was "upset and dismayed'' by the way Prison Commissioner Mr. Edward Dyer invited Police to make the search.

The operation was carried out in public view, he added.

"What is even more distressing is that the Prison Department continues to tell the staff and general public that the staff are the greatest asset of the department, well the actions taken show no regard for the staff of the department which leaves each and every officer in the department open for ridicule from the inmate and general public.'' Mr. Richardson said the association had met Social Services Minister the Hon.

Quinton Edness, his permanent secretary, and Mr. Dyer, over the last six months.

The aim was to "establish a harmonious working relationship between the association and the prison administration and the number one item on our list was staff morale''.

Mr. Richardson said he had told Mr. Edness that morale was low.

On Monday, Mr. Dyer met with Prison officers and Mr. Edness to discuss the drugs search.

Afterwards, he said: "I personally don't have a serious problem with the way the search was done, though it could have been carried out in a different way.'' He promised future searches would be carried out in a more private way.

Mr. Dyer explained the search was carried out to quell rumours that drugs were being smuggled into Prison by officers.

He was "delighted'' no drugs were found.