B.C. prison guards decry increasing violence, drone drops of weapons, drugs

B.C. prisons are facing a wave of violence unseen by even veteran correctional officers, spurred by drone drops of drugs and weapons, and the union representing guards says it’s worsening a mental health crisis among its members.The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers said Wednesday that prisons have become “overwhelmed” by the surge in drone drops in correctional facilities.John Randle, a regional president with the union in the Pacific region, said Wednesday that violent incidents against guards have “exploded” across the country, including two “major” assaults that saw one officer in Ontario slashed in the back of the head with a razor blade weapon, and a guard beaten by a group of inmates elsewhere.