unsupervised prison day release workers and girlfriends.

Allegations of convicts being drunk, rude and overly familiar to residents and shopkeepers will also be examined.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness last night said he felt duty bound to investigate the claims, although there was no evidence to support them.

The Royal Gazette last week received reliable reports of prisoners meeting girlfriends in the underground tunnel area of the Maritime Museum.