The proposed transfer of nine inmates from Westgate to the Co-Ed facility to relieve overcrowding was halted yesterday.

Acting Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Martin Law put the controversial move on ice after furious prison officers refused to transfer the foreign nationals.

Following yet more crisis talks between the Prison Officers' Association and the Ministry, a joint Press statement was issued explaining that the movement order had been rescinded but "prison officers have not, in any way, threatened to withdraw from their lawful duties".

Prison officers were livid earlier this week when Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton signed an order for male prisoners to be transferred to the Co-Ed facility at Ferry Reach to ease overcrowding.

POA officials are adamant that although a number of solutions to the overcrowding problem were put forward at last week's crisis meeting with Government, moving prisoners was not one of them ? something refuted by the Ministry.

Mr. Horton had stated that the prisoners to be moved would be low-risk inmates while the 12 foreign nationals transferred on Tuesday, including those convicted of drug offences, some of whom had sentences of up to 18 years.

Yesterday's Press statement stated that Westgate was now below its capacity of 208 but "further transfers can be expected if circumstances warrant them".