A recovering heroin abuser has made a plea for Government to take hard action on drugs in prisons after he went inside clean and came out an addict.

The 41-year-old was arrested for drug possession, convicted and sent to Westgate prison about four years ago.

He said he managed to kick the habit during his time on remand, and, although drugs were openly available, he was able to avoid them.

However, he said once he was sent to the prison farm at Ferry Reach, he found it almost impossible to stay out of their way.

After some time at the farm, he returned to his old stomping ground at the back of town as addicted as he had ever been.

He said: "I went to prison for two years and managed to get clean... a huge step for me.

"I had been clean twice before but had gone back to drugs because I was mixing with the same people and was involved in the same habits.

"But when I went to Westgate I seemed to be able to handle it better. I wanted to stay off heroin and cocaine, and I managed to.

"In Westgate there were rooms where it was obvious what people were doing, but I just avoided those areas.

"However, when I got transferred to the prison farm it all changed.'' The former addict, who wishes not to be named, said in the prison farm people were bullied into picking up drugs when they went outside on work release.

And he said it was not unknown for prison officers to supply drugs to inmates.

"At the farm, you would be expected to get the drugs for people when you were out on work release. People in the prison would threaten you if you did not do it,'' he added.

"Drugs were openly available. .. and people had numerous opportunities to get them. It was near impossible to stay clean.

"I felt that I had not gained anything from being there. I went in clean and came out an addict.'' Acting Commissioner of Prisons Marvin Trott last night said he was aware there were problems with easy access to drugs inside prisons.

He said discussions were underway to try to stem the problem, and he said special scanners that were able to pick up any traces of drugs on clothing and skin had just been repaired and returned to the Island in the last few days.

"Measures are in place and we continue to upgrade procedures with respect of drugs within the prisons department,'' he said.

"It (the scanner) has not been out because it was found to have some faults on it. It had to be sent abroad for recalibrating and we have just received it back.'' And he said he was hopeful it would soon begin to have an affect.

"We acknowledge that drugs is a problem and we are taking steps to improve it.

"Random testing is an issue -there is some. But it's an issue that is currently being discussed as we speak.'' Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said he had been concerned for some time about the availability of drugs in prison.

And he said the ion scanners should have been in use for some time and accused Government and the prison authorities of a "big cover up'' on the use of the machines.

He also suggested drug dogs be utilised in the prisons because officers were unable to monitor everywhere at once.

"I have been on record before as saying we don't do enough in prisons with regards drugs, and I think a vast amount of prison officers will support me on that,'' said the Opposition member.