throwing drugs over the walls.

There have also been "a number'' of attacks by inmates on prison officers.

Those were the shock revelations in an official report to MPs yesterday.

The 1992 report of the Treatment of Offenders Board revealed "several unauthorised articles'' were confiscated during the year.

These included "alcoholic brews made from potatoes, yeast, etc. and marijuana bags thrown inside the walls at Casemates''.

The report adds: "There were also a number of assaults against prison officers.'' Inmates responsible for such offences were penalised after "mini-trials''.

There were seven such trials during the year. Punishments usually involved loss of remission or privileges.

The board backed a recommendation of the Tumim report into the justice system that reasons for refusal of parole should be given.

But board members had "reservations'' about limiting their power to remove remission.

Final decisions on parole should be made by the board, says the report. It also says board chairperson Mrs. Marlene Landy had to take "certain corrective measures'' after "serious leaks of information'' about board procedures and decisions.

Members welcomed the new prison's "correctional'' rather than "punitive'' approach.

A total of 21 interviews were granted to prisoners to discuss their concerns.

During the year the prison population dropped from 285 to 253.