An attempted prison escape reminiscent of the breakout in the film The Shawshank Redemption was foiled last weekend at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre.

Two prisoners were involved in the attempt, which was uncovered Sunday morning by corrections officials when they discovered a large hole in the ceiling of a cell inside the maximum security facility.

B次元官网网址淭he circumstances are dramatic and very movie-like,B次元官网网址� said Saanich police Sgt. Dean Jantzen, adding that more details wonB次元官网网址檛 be released unless charges against the two prisoners involved are sworn. B次元官网网址淚 can confirm that our detectives are investigating this incident B次元官网网址� It involves the potential for a breach of security at the jail.B次元官网网址�

The hole was large enough for an individual to fit through, though Jantzen could not say whether any prisoner actually breached his cell.

B次元官网网址淎t no time was there any risk to public safety,B次元官网网址� Jantzen said.

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General wonB次元官网网址檛 comment on what happened, but did confirm an incident took place.

B次元官网网址淎s soon as the hole was discovered, B.C. Corrections contacted Saanich police to start an investigation into the attempted escape,B次元官网网址� a ministry spokesman said.

B次元官网网址淎s this incident is now the subject of an active police investigation, we are unable to provide more information at this time.B次元官网网址�

Dean Purdy, chair of corrections and sheriff services with the B.C. Government Employees Union said no staff members were injured, but the attempt had B次元官网网址渢he potential to be very serious.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 can say that overcrowding in the living unit where this occurred possibly played a part,B次元官网网址� Purdy said. The prison was built in 1985 to hold 206 inmates, but routinely houses 350 to 400, he said.

VIRCC, located on Wilkinson Road, is both a remand facility and a prison for inmates sentenced up to two years less a day in jail.

Neither Saanich police or the ministry would say whether the two inmates involved are in remand or serving a sentence.

B次元官网网址淭his is another example of how difficult the job of a correctional officer is,B次元官网网址� Purdy said. B次元官网网址淲e have to be ever-vigilant against escape attempts, homemade weapons, assaults on staff and the ongoing violence that occurs inside our correctional facilities.B次元官网网址� He said 15 to 20 guards wouldB次元官网网址檝e been working at the time of the incident.

Kathy Corrigan, NDP critic for the ministry of public safety, says the ratio of guards to prisoners needs to be improved so corrections officers have better working conditions.

B次元官网网址淲hen you have a situation like this where you have a potential breakout and you donB次元官网网址檛 have adequate personnel, I think that the possibility of a crisis situation is made worse when this ratio is so poor,B次元官网网址� Corrigan said. B次元官网网址淭his time, apparently a potential breakout was prevented, but there are potential tragedies waiting in the wings if things arenB次元官网网址檛 improved.B次元官网网址�

In addition to the police investigation, B.C. Corrections is conducting a critical incident review.

kslavin@saanichnews.com