Plague of drone deliveries – Correctional Service Canada not doing enough

DONNACONA, QC, June 13, 2021 / CNW Telbec / – The Union des agents correctionnels du Canada (UCCO-SACC-CSN) calls on the Correctional Service of Canada to step up the fight against parcel deliveries to penitentiaries by drone, efforts to date have been made being found to be insufficient. This morning, UCCO-SACC-CSN staged a realistic simulation of a drone delivery to Donnacona, Qc.

New radars
After years of repeated requests, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will install advanced radar equipment to detect drones in the coming months. “Radar will allow more effective detection of drones overhead, which is a step in the right direction,” said Frédérick Lebeau, Quebec regional president of UCCO-SACC-CSN. However, CSC plans to install only five radar systems in the 49 federal institutions across the country. Donnacona is the only penitentiary in Quebec where the radar should be installed.

Interception
In addition, the radar will only solve the detection side of the problem. “Once a drone is detected, how are we going to get our hands on the package before the detainees?” Lebeau asks. Interception is essential to keep the contents of packages out of penitentiaries. “For now, the CSC is dragging its feet: there have been preliminary discussions on securing cell windows and putting up roofs over prison yards, but nothing more. is not made to intercept packages, the radar will be useless. “

Epileptic crisis
Correctional officers are also demanding the expedited installation of body scanners in all penitentiaries. “Once the detainees have the illicit objects in their possession, they hide them wherever they can. Body scanners will allow us to capture these objects. Parliament passed Bill C-83 in 2019, which calls for the installation of body scanners, but two years later plans have yet to be finalized. Pilot scanner projects are supposed to be implemented in two penitentiaries, in Ontario and Alberta. “However, detainees will be able to choose whether or not to be scanned, which concerns us. We are impatiently awaiting the regulation which will specify the modalities of application of the law. It is imperative that scanning is mandatory; if not, what will the technology be used for? “

The story continues

A plague
Drone deliveries are particularly frequent at Donnacona Penitentiary and have increased in recent years. “There is everything, drugs, guns, cell phones, tobacco. It’s all worth a fortune inside. Drugs and guns wreak havoc among inmates and cause outbreaks of violence between inmates and against correctional officers. “Cell phones are used to communicate with the outside world and organize deliveries. Tobacco often leads to debt in detainees, which can have disastrous consequences.” In recent months, despite the ban on visits and the curfew, Donnacona correctional officers intercepted an average of two packages per week. “These are just the ones we see. There are all the deliveries that overtake us.” During the month of May 2021, there were eight drug seizures, five arms seizures, two alcohol seizures, four tobacco seizures and four cell phone seizures in Donnacona. “75% of this contraband was brought by drones, specifies Frédérick Lebeau.

SOURCE Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN)

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