The UFAP UNSa Justice union warns about the projections of packages inside the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier prison (Isère), the number of which is increasing sharply as in many others prisons from the country.
In 2020, 832 screenings were recovered by the agents of this establishment near Lyon, according to the union which estimates that “Less than half” parcels addressed to detainees from outside are seized.
“Since the beginning of 2021, it is the explosion: out of 477 projections announced, and we do not see them all, only 235 have been recovered”, adds Alain Chevallier, regional secretary of UFAP UNSa.
Narcotics, alcohol, laptops …
The intercepted packages contained a total of more than eight kilograms of narcotics, nearly 900 cell phones, as well as dozens of liters of alcohol and some thirty bladed weapons.
Collect these consignments before the detainees do so, by picking them up in the promenade or by “Fishing” from their cells, is not without risk: on the night of February 18 to 19, two guards came under mortar fire which injured one of them in the ear, according to the union.
The establishment of Isère is not the only one concerned in France, far from it. “This scourge is not new and almost generalized in the territory. It has been worrying us for several years but we are seeing an upsurge “, confirms Stéphane Scotto, interregional director of prison services in Lyon.
Use of protective nets
This increase would be due in particular to the introduction of sanitary protection walls in the visiting rooms, “Airtight for the virus but also for objects that can be returned on this occasion”, explains the manager.
To curb the phenomenon, in addition to the use of protective nets above certain perimeter walls, establishments carry out searches when projections of packages are spotted.
“From this year, the administration will be able to deploy local security teams who will have the regulatory prerogatives to put to flight or question the authors of projections”, adds Stéphane Scotto, who sees there “A very important step forward” against intrusions by individuals at the foot of the walls.
“The competence of these teams stops at the limits of the penitentiary area, but shipments are also made from the public highway”, shade Alain Chevallier. It is then necessary to resort to the police but “The time to intervene is very short”, he emphasizes.
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