Prisoners grow cannabis in yard

PRISON officers have discovered cannabis growing in the main courtyard at Saint-Martin-de-Ré jail in Charente-Maritime.

Officers found the plants - which had reached about 80cm in height - during a patrol round a garden of tomato and maize plants being kept by long-term prisoners. They were dotted in amongst the proper vegetables to pass unnoticed.

The plots, along the walls of the yard, had traditionally been used by prisoners to grow vegetables or flowers, and were in areas well-frequented by inmates.

Officials from prison officers union FO Pénitentiaire denounced lax management at the île de Ré prison and said it had long demanded increased search and seizure interventions by officers.

The union said that the administration had "bought peace" by doing nothing and added that the cannabis had been difficult to spot as it was spread out but also because they had no specific drug training.

The procureur at La Rochelle has asked the gendarmerie to investigate.
Photo: yellowj - Fotolia.com