The first prisoners have been relocated from Westgate to Southside as a new prison dedicated to civil criminals opened in the East End yesterday.

The facility will only house men incarcerated for non-payment of fines or child support whose records have been screened for other offences, said Labour and Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Robert Horton.

The new correctional facility is located at Southside's Building 632 -- a three-storey complex next to the former galley and tennis courts of the old US Navy base.

Fourteen men were moved to the new East End Correctional Facility -- which can hold a maximum of 32 inmates -- yesterday.

The plan to open the new prison raised concerns among St. David's residents that dangerous criminals might be housed in the area, bringing with them drug and security threats.

"The Minister has been very careful and responsive to the residents concerns,'' added Mr. Horton. "The composition of (the men moved yesterday) reflects the concerns expressed.'' Last month, Minister Paula Cox held a meeting with area residents to gather information on their concerns. She delayed opening the new correctional facility until she had addressed these matters, Mr. Horton said yesterday.

In a letter dated April 6, Minister Cox informed the 75 residents who had turned out at the meeting that she had heard and dealt with their concerns.

"I wish to assure you that we are not insensitive to your views and thank those of you who have taken the time to express them concerning the proposed relocation of civil inmates,'' Ms Cox said.

The residents wanted assurance on whether those sentenced for burglary, drugs or sexual offences would be housed in the facility and whether the building and its surroundings were sufficiently secure to house the inmates.

"I am able to confirm that only individuals who have been imprisoned as a result of non-payment of fines or child support will be accommodated at Southside,'' wrote Ms. Cox.

"A few of these individuals have been imprisoned for traffic offences also.'' The minister also assured the residents that a secure area with appropriate fencing had been erected for a prisoners' recreational area and that exterior lighting had been beefed up around the building for security purposes.

There was also concern that prisoners returning from work release would be walking through the area after being dropped off at No. 1 gate.

However, Ms Cox said that the Public Transportation Board is now reviewing that situation and, in the interim, HM Prisons will transport returning prisoners to the facility.

Mr. Horton told The Royal Gazette the facility is only intended to operate for a period of 18 months -- until the Alternatives to Incarceration programme is running.

"Once that programme is up and running, this population of inmates will no longer be imprisoned,'' said Mr. Horton. "There will be other methods of garnishing the back payments they owe. Essentially, this population will disappear.'' Mr. Horton said the ministry had looked exhaustively for a facility after it was announced that F building -- a facility immediately outside Westgate which had originally been earmarked for civil inmates -- would become Government's new halfway house.

Inmates will gradually be moved to the new facility over the next few weeks.