Prisons boss Hubert Dean is to get tough with inmates behind the rising tide of violence in Westgate.

Recently the Prison Officers Association said attacks on prison officers were averaging one a month.

Mr Dean said the powers of the Treatment of Offenders Board are limited.

He told : "I am looking more to taking it back to court ? that's what I would like to do before it gets out of hand. We need to nip it in the bud."

Gang clashes had not yet occurred but he said prisoners were behaving differently on breaks by hanging around in cliques rather than milling about together.

He said Police were involved in identifying gang members and the prison was looking at separating gang members into different units although he conceded this would present logistical problems.

Numbers at Westgate are down with 199 inmates now housed in the 208-cell prison ? when traditionally it is full to bursting in the summer.

He said: "That is very surprising. We have had as many as 225 with people on mattresses on the floors."

But he believes prison numbers will soon start rising as tough new prison sentences for those caught with blades and importing drugs began to bite.

"It will increase number tremendously. I won't have the flexibility to get people out of here so I can accommodate others."

He said a prefab had been ordered for the prison farm to segregate work release people from other inmates to cut down on drug trafficking within prison.

Although the working inmates are searched when they return some drugs still got through said Mr. Dean.

The prefab will hold 24 prisoners and is set to arrive within six weeks.

He said officers were finding more drugs and contraband in sweeps of the yard as the practice of throwing stuff over fences and walls continued.

"They throw things into the recreation field. We are constantly on the look out before letting prisoners out for breaks. We are finding cell phones in socks so when they hit the ground they don't shatter.

"We are apprehending it now. It isn't getting through."

Asked how the contraband found its way into the hands of those for which it was intended Mr. Dean said: "In prison you have a network which is second to none."

He said one fence had been fixed but he was still waiting on Works and Engineering to install lights and cameras to pick out the throwers but the prison service didn't have the manpower to chase after them.

"By the time we get out they are gone."

But he said drug seizures within the walls of Westgate had gone down. "We now have a third dog ? the canine presence has been a deterrent.

"A lot of people don't show up for visits, you find a twist in the park. We are finding less inside but certainly finding more around the perimeters."

Mr. Dean also called on Government to get a grip on maintenance issues at Westgate which nearly sparked a strike late last month.

"Westgate is ten to 11 years old now ? I am not going to take a shot at Works and Engineering but there has not been much of a maintenance programme."

He said when Westgate opened there was a man on site from Works and Engineering who sorted out repairs but now there was no one and things were left undone.

Recently Westgate staff threatened action after they ? and convicts ? had to use seawater to flush toilets. They also complained about air conditioning not working.

"It's very hot in those areas, we provided some relief in giving them flexi-hours but it needs to be addressed. The AC is still not working, we are waiting for parts."

He said the prison suffered from constant pipe breaks ? not from malicious damage ? but from wear and tear.

"We are constantly in need of general repair."

But he feared Works and Engineering will again concentrate on fixing school this summer, as was the customary practice.