Warning of jail attacks

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.

A Correctional Services spokesman said no announcement would be made on the likelihood of appeal until the judgment had been studied.

Prison officers say gambling exists in numerous forms and that the propensity for gambling is high among the general prison populations.

Inmates are known to gamble on Chinese chess games, prison sporting events and even variations on the confidence trickster's shell game using buttons.

Legislative Council Security Panel chairman James To Kun-sun, who raised the issue last year, expressed only partial support for the judgment.

'I think a compromise that could have been implemented without all this trouble would have been to simply distribute the racing papers after the races have been run . . . at least it would curb gambling, which can never be stopped completely,' Mr To said.

Prisoner Friends' Association chairman Jane Crawley said she was pleased to see a prisoner fight for his rights and win but would have been happier if the cause had been more worthwhile.

'If they were fighting for better dental care or education it would have been preferable,' she said.