spells, says a prisons watchdog.

The Treatment of Offenders Board just-released 1999 report said attacks on staff were undermining morale and dedication to duty.

It said: "The Board is concerned about the increasing amount of violence in our prisons. Once again we must reflect upon the negative attitudes and violent acts played out in our community.

"The wounding of officers and inmates resulting in hospitalisation and long periods of recuperation is unacceptable.'' The report revealed prison rowdiness was adding to the board's workload and leading to inmates regularly losing privileges, earnings and remission.

The report said inmates: "treat officers with gross disrespect, use abusive and insolent language, threaten officers, wilfully disfigure and damage parts of the prison, use controlled drugs -- marijuana, cocaine and morphine/diamorphine -- inflict personal violence on officers and inmates, steal from other inmates, and the list goes on.'' An Indiana University criminal justice academic will be conducting a focus group with six violent Westgate prisoners in October, reveals the report.

Prison violence rising, says report The Board said more than 20 inmates needed to be in a psychiatric ward as they were incapable of comprehending what was being said to them - a condition often brought about from years of chronic drug abuse.

The findings went on: "The increased threatening and violent behaviour causes us to be concerned for the safety of officers and staff.'' Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said attacks on prison officers and fellow inmates very rarely involved mentally ill prisoners.

She said: "Discussions are taking place within Government to consider whether there should be alternate facilities for those who are seriously ill -whether physically or mentally - and who are sentenced to serve a period of incarceration.'' And the Minister promised laws to allow random drug testing on inmates after the Board slammed lack of effort in tackling the issue.

The report said the drugs problem in prisons continued to be a matter of "great concern''.

The report went on: "We appreciate dogs were brought into Westgate on one occasion during the year.

"The Acting Chief Officer reported to us as late as November 1999 that drug use and trafficking remains a very serious problem in the facility.

"As a substitute for drugs, inmates are also manufacturing prison alcohol.

"Clearly bringing dogs into prison once a year is totally inadequate.

"Why is it so difficult to do a better job than this? Legislation must be put in place which gives the prison lawful basis for drug testing of inmates.

"It is painful for the board to see the toll that drug abuse is taking on inmates.

"At the moment the drug testing can only be done if the inmate gives consent to it.'' In her response to the report in the House of Assembly on Friday Ms. Cox said a law to allow random drug testing on inmates would be tabled soon. She added: "The Commissioner of Prisons has been instructed to increase the number of random inspections by prison officers using Police dogs.

"There are other planned initiatives but I am not at liberty to provide full disclosure as it would dilute their intended effectiveness.'' Ms. Cox also picked up on comments by the Board that many inmates were unable to take advantage of prison programs because of lack of literacy skills.

She said there were reading programs in place.

And she added: "The Prisons department is presently looking into the possibility of hiring a full-time reading specialist to work with the inmates with learning disabilities and to coordinate a reading program with volunteers.'' A parole board will be set up said Ms. Cox but it would require a law change.

She said: "This should assist the Treatment of Offenders Board so that they are able to focus even more attention on issues relating to the treatment of prisoners and to identify issues.''