A lockdown at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre ended Monday morning with the extensive search for contraband uncovering drugs, drug paraphernalia and items that could potentially be used as a weapon, a B.C. Justice Ministry spokeswoman said.
According to the ministry, the lockdown began Friday morning although a B.C. Government and Services Employees Union representative said it began Thursday morning and lasted four-and-a-half days.
During a lockdown, inmates are confined to their cells.
Ministry spokeswoman Cindy Rose said charges against inmates under the Correction Act Regulation will be considered. That means B.C. Corrections will deal with the offences internally rather than pursue criminal charges through the court.
"Despite available supports and strict protocols, people with addictions will take extraordinary measures to continue to obtain and use drugs," Rose said in an e-mailed statement. "That is exactly why Corrections has stringent security measures in place and a zero tolerance policy to deal with contraband drugs and items in all of our correctional centres."
Dean Purdy, the chair for the BCGEU's correctional and sheriff services component, said such a long-lasting lockdown is rare and is usually limited to a search of a single living unit or cell.
He called on the government to purchase scanning devices similar to those used at airports to help corrections officers search for contraband.
"We were very concerned with what could've been a very dangerous situation for our correctional officers who day in and day out face this type of environment and do a great job protecting public safety," Purdy said.
Rose said corrections staff use ion scanners to detect and identify trace amounts of illegal drugs and conduct inmate frisks and area searches.
"There are comprehensive policy and procedures in place in correctional centres for drug search and seizure, and to supervise visits," Rose said.
Details on how the contraband got into PGRCC were not given.
