Predictably, the Prison Officers Association has hit back at Commissioner of Corrections Hubert Dean's claims that some prison officers are complicit in bringing drugs into the Island's prisons.

That's a shame. Mr. Dean, rather than being chastised for admitting the problem, should be praised for admitting that there is a problem and doing something about it.

It would have been much simpler for him to bury his head in the sand and deny it. But he had the courage to acknowledge that it exists.

The Association has said that all officers are now tarred with the brush of being drug importers. But Mr. Dean said he has suspicions that only about a dozen officers are involved. That means that the vast majority of officers are not, and that is something that should be welcomed.

It would have been refreshing if the Association had taken the opposite tack and said something like this: "We acknowledge that some of our officers may be involved in bringing drugs into the prisons. Such behaviour damages the reputation of the Prison Service as a whole and hurts the officers who are doing their best to help rehabilitate the inmates in their care. We are prepared to work with the Commissioner and the senior management to do all we can to get rid of those officers who are a blemish on our Service."

It is worth noting that Mr. Dean went out of his way to praise his officers. He admitted there were problems and, like other uniformed services, it has problems recruiting dedicated and committed staff.

That is not a slight on the service, but a recognition of reality.

Mr. Dean has done an extraordinary job of improving the service from the dire days under the former Commissioner when officers were striking and the prisons seemed to be in a permanent state of chaos.

That is not to say it is perfect now, but Mr. Dean and his staff now are going in the right direction. He deserves support and cooperation from his officers and from the general public, not knee-jerk reactions.

Some of the areas where there has been progress include:

The reduction in drug abuse in the prisons itself;

The increased availability of rehabilitation and retraining classes and the introduction of "carrots and sticks" to get inmates to take part in the courses;

An added emphasis on training of officers and the additional support that has been given to them in both supervision of inmates and the security of the correctional facilities; and

Plans to give senior managers training in the most up to date prison procedures.

That's not to say that nothing else needs to be done. Hiring a permanent prison psychiatrist is essential. Mr. Dean also needs to listen to the other complaints of the Association, which range from the need for a corporate plan, more overseas training, officers holding acting ranks and the need for the search for Mr. Dean's successor to begin immediately since his contract ends in June.

These are all legitimate concerns, but the Association should also take care not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr. Dean has done much to put right the prisons service and should not be criticised for being honest in his opinions.