Taylor Faulty fire, personal security and perimeter alarms could turn Westgate prison into the site of a potential catastrophe according Opposition MP Michael Dunkley.

Last night the Shadow Home Affairs Minister said officers were now "working in fear'', and claimed that two prison officers had been assaulted in the past week.

And he noted that faulty perimeter alarms meant it would be easy for prisoners to escape.

Mr. Dunkley said: "The perimeter alarms are not working -- you can't control who is walking in or out.

"The officer's personal radio systems are totally ineffective -- in some areas they won't work. You can't get help.'' Mr. Dunkley said problems with perimeter security alarms were also occurring at the prison farm in St. George's where many of the overspill prisoners had been moved to relieve Westgate's overcrowding.

"The lights in the prison farm don't work,'' said Mr. Dunkley. "When those prisoners walked out over the Christmas period they could not see them.

"It wasn't the fault of the prison officers.

"I am not trying to create fear or raise alarm -- I am speaking the truth. I am hoping for positive change.

"It's a serious situation and it can't be swept under the carpet. I have the responsibility to ensure action by being vocal.

"Officers are working in fear. One officer is managing 48 inmates -- that's what happened when one officer was assaulted and put in hospital just recently.

"They are short of 30 staff.'' Mr. Dunkley said he had quizzed Public Safety Minister Paula Cox about the faulty fire alarm on the floor of the House of Assembly in December and was told that the system had been down since July 2000.

The problem was discovered in November when a blaze in the workshop and gym in D building caused about $50,000 worth of damage.

Mr. Dunkley said: "And the fire alarm is still not working, most perimeter and internal alarms are still not working.

"If a fire occurs in the middle of the night you would not know until you were overcome by smoke.

"We are talking about a maximum security prison. It's not like a house where you can let yourself out.

"There's a small amount of staff to help prisoners get out. I am sure if the fire service saw it they would rectify it as soon as possible.

Prison wardens `working in fear' Last night Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer denied that there were problems with the facility's alarms and said he had no knowledge of any of his staff being attacked.

"The fire alarm system was working very soon after the fire,'' he said.

"We are still tweaking the system in the area where the fire occurred.

"The staff duress alarms occasionally have teething problems but for practical purposes the system works well. Occasionally the computer system goes down.'' "I would not comment on perimeter security at all -- whether it was working or not working.

"If there were assaults on staff I would have heard about it. I have spoken to senior people and heard nothing whatsoever.

"I have spoken to junior people at Westgate and have no information about assaults. I am not wishing to comment on what Mr. Dunkley says.'' But Mr. Dunkley hit back: "I stand by my information -- I believe it is still not working. If he wants to argue back and forth that's fine by me.

"I have a number of reliable sources working within the prison system. They are desperate.'' "If the Commissioner doesn't know about the assaults I am even more concerned about it than ever. It's not about covering it up.'' And the Shadow Minister was backed by Prison Officers Association Chairman Michael Tuzo, who said: "There have been two incidents in the last week.

"I can't reveal what happened -- but one officer ended up in hospital.

"It's happening too often now, too frequently.

"It's the same situation we find ourselves in -- shortages of staff, the type of inmates we have, the reasons for the attacks are really diverse but I don't want to get into detail right now.'' Prison Officers Association spokesman Russ Ford refused to comment on any security lapses.

"I can't comment on security for various reasons,'' he said.

"From time to time we have had security issues and at this stage I am not prepared to confirm or deny there are issues of that nature.

"Wherever he got his information he made his comments based on that.

"It's well-known that when they built Westgate some security that was supposed to be put in place was not.'' Delays in the planned inquiry into the prison service were also attacked by Mr. Dunkley.

He said: "It was due to take place in the first week of December -- now I hear it's been put back to February. It's more concerning because it was to deal with the prison officers' express complaints.

"It shows a lack of sincerity on behalf of this Government.

"It can't be allowed to go on in light of staff being assaulted and shortages of officers. Is this acceptable? The answer is clearly no.'' Mr. Dyer said the staff shortages were being tackled.

He said: "We have 12 vacancies which we are in the process of filling, we should be offering people jobs perhaps in the next month.

"Then they have to go through training.'' Michael Dunkley