Overcrowding and understaffing in the Island's prisons could explode into a summer of violence, Prison Officers Association spokesman Russ Ford said yesterday.

And he gave clear hints that industrial action could be on the cards if the situation dragged on.

He said new prisoners were being put in sections normally reserved for murderers and sex offenders.

And he said the recent influx meant some prisoners were shoeless and had to wear the same clothes for days.

Overtime was running at $45,000 a month, with 6,800 extra hours worked in the second quarter of this year, continued Mr. Ford, as prison officers struggled to plug the gaps.

He said: "If things carry on, we have the potential of serious violence within prison, whether it be on staff or inmate on inmate.

"There are staff concerned when they come to work whether they will actually leave.

"And this is the worst time. It's always a heated period where tempers fly and tolerance levels lower.

"Westgate has 220 cells. 208 are normal cells. The others are segregated areas.

"On Wednesday, we had 214 inmates. You do the maths. People come in for civil offences, non-payment of debts and end up with maximum security inmates such as murderers and rapists.'' Asked if there would be a repeat of last summer's industrial action, Mr. Ford said: "We will have to take the necessary steps to ensure that the working conditions of our staff are maintained at a level that is acceptable.

"We're trying to express some of our concerns to the Minister.'' And he claimed the Prison Farm, where many of the civil cases were sent, was also full to bursting.

He said: "It's supposed to have 64 inmates but, as of Wednesday, they had 91 and they are looking at taking that to 96, but we have had no increase in staff.'' Beds had to be plundered from the old Casemates prison, said Mr. Ford.

He added: "The plumbing is under siege. The officers are under siege because of the numbers they have to deal with.'' Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer admitted there were three sections in Westgate where just one officer looked after 48 prisoners but said that had been standard practice since it opened.

Island's prisons in crisis Mr. Ford said the units should have two members of staff.

He said: "You can't keep tabs on everyone. It's very frustrating. Those people are in your face.

"In the past few weeks it has been overflowing.

"The jail is full and running over and there doesn't appear to be any let up or a contingency plan to deal the rising numbers. It impacts on staff morale and safety.'' Mr. Dyer admitted: "The place is bulging at the moment.'' He said group rooms could be turned into dorms if numbers continued to rise, giving up to 30 extra short-term places.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said Government officials had talked to Magistrates to spell out the situation as jailing civil offenders put a strain on the prison service.

And she told The Royal Gazette that she had spoken with Ministerial colleagues to see if there was other space available for the overflow.

Ms Cox suggested deducting money from wages was an option which could be used more as an alternative to jailing those not paying fines or maintenance.

Mr. Dyer said: "In 1991, 27 people were jailed for civil offences but, already this year, 63 have been jailed.

"This can be directly attributed to the success the Magistrates' Courts have had, but it has impacted on us significantly.'' Staff working on rest days are paid double time while those doing back to back shifts are paid at time and a half.

Mr. Ford said: "It affects morale, relationships between staff and the ability of staff to affectively carry out their duties if they are tired. They might make mistakes and not be so detailed or as security minded as they should be. They can't be expected to perform at their peak.'' The inmate influx has hit prison supplies as well, claimed Mr. Ford.

He said: "We have inmates waiting for four weeks for a pair of sneakers.

They're wearing flip flops. The budget for the stores was slashed last year.

"It's not uncommon for inmates to wear the same articles of clothing for three days. They have to turn them inside out. It's not hygienic and the impact is very, very demoralising.

"There's more altercations and frustrations.'' Mr. Ford said Westgate was nine short of the 120 officers envisaged when the prison was built, but he said 15 officers were needed to cope with the workload.

But Mr. Dyer said he was seeking only to fill the current six vacancies.

Fed-up staff are leaving early because of low morale, said Mr. Ford. "Many staff are opting to retire early rather than serve their 21 years. They are burnt out.

"It's not uncommon to hear people say: `Hey, I'll just bide my time'. It's sad that morale has reached a point where people lack the enthusiasm to come to work.'' Staff were further enraged by lack of any decisions over promotions, said Mr.

Ford, with some staff doing acting roles for over six months, without hearing if they had landed the post permanently.

Mr. Dyer said: "Six months is rather long, but the matter is currently before the Public Service Commission and I would hope to hear back from them this month.''