MORE assaults, more breaches of discipline and extra pressure on prison officers would result from yesterday's court ruling to return racing sections to prison newspapers, the Correctional Services Officers' Association warned.
It said gambling could never be eradicated from the prison system, in which inmatescommonly used handmade playing cards and books from the prison libraries to play high stakes games of chance based on odd and even page numbers.
An association spokesman said horse-racing was the most popular form of gambling in prisons and that Mr Justice Sears had 'facilitated' its spread in making his judgment.
He also predicted a surge in assaults in prison, related to debt collection, which the withdrawal of racing sections had curbed.
Between May 1 and October 30 last year, 14 prisoners had been caught gambling on horses in prisons other than Stanley. In the corresponding period this year, after the removal of the racing sections, only two inmates had been caught gambling on horses, except at Stanley where the numbers had increased.
A senior Correctional Services Department officer said last night it was likely changes would have to be made to prison patrols, particularly on race days.
There have been incidents in the past where families of prisoners with debts have been assaulted by associates of those owed money. 'There will probably be more breaches of discipline in the prisons with a return to racing papers being available,' the officer said.