PRISON BRASS VOW CLEANUP

OTTAWA -- Federal prisons are brimming with a cornucopia of lethal
weapons, hard-core drugs and homemade booze, but Corrections Canada
brass are vowing to step up efforts to curb the contraband.

Documents obtained by Sun Media through access to information reveal
that inmates have got their hands on everything from crack cocaine
and heroin to explosives, hacksaws, pornography and classified
government material.

In reference to explosives and handcuff keys, a notice from the
Correctional Service of Canada accompanying the list explained that
the "vast majority of those items were found in common areas and were
of no concern." Further, it noted none of the contraband items were
found in possession of "high profile" prisoners.

Sylvain Martel, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional
Officers, said the rise in drugs and weapons is creating more tension
and danger in Canada's penitentiaries. While there has been a
"dramatic" increase of dangerous weapons because of escalating gang
activity behind bars, officers are bound by limits on search and
seizure, and often offenders aren't charged for drug possession, he said.

Conservative MP Myron Thompson said for too long "hoodlums" have been
running the show instead of the authorities. He said there must be an
immediate crackdown to rid the prisons of drugs and weapons.

"It makes the situation very dangerous for the guards and the other
inmates," Thompson said. "I know at some of the institutions I've
visited I've found inmates in solitary confinement on request. Not
for doing anything wrong, but for their own protection."