The prison administration department’s action plan for 2013 within the framework of the fight against heatwaves linked the implementation of specific measures, and provision of electric fans in particular, to the launching of a prefectural alert as defined under the French national heatwave action plan. Yet, the CGLPL noted that the temperatures reached in the months of June, July and August 2013 did not lead all prefectures to make decisions of this kind. Nevertheless, prisoners in some of these departments asserted that they suffered particularly from the heat, but were unable to obtain the granting of fans placed at their disposal. In view of the fact that prefectural decisions to launch alerts are based upon criteria that do not take the special living conditions of persons deprived of liberty into account (inability to ventilate their accommodation, impossibility of free access to any outdoor area or shower room etc.), the CGLPL recommended that measures for reducing the health risks connected with extremes of temperature in prison should be implemented independently of the launching of prefectural alerts and advised the establishment of daily cell temperature readings, in order to enable the launching of local alerts when temperatures reach pre-established levels. By means of a letter of 23rd May 2014, the director of the prisons administration informed the CGLPL that the 2014 action plan sets out preventive measures to be implemented independently of the launching of prefectural alerts, in particular by means of authorisation of the purchase of fans, sun creams, sunhats and cap-type headgear in prison shops, between 1st June and 30th September. The notes specifies that the measures described are not exhaustive and that heads of institutions are encouraged to take local initiatives, even in the absence of the launching of prefectural alerts. Nevertheless, other measures (access to water, cooling of premises, adaptation of operation, catering to specific groups of prisoners etc.) remain linked to the launching of prefectural alerts. However, the director of the prisons administration has undertaken to look into the possibility of elaborating a specific alert system for prisons. The CGLPL shall therefore pay close attention to the results of this reflection. 4.1.4 Proper use of social networking services The publication of comments and photos in publications on the Facebook 25 profiles of certain members of staff was brought to the Contrôleur Général’s attention. Although the elements ascertained do not directly enable the establishment of a clear case of violation of fundamental rights 26 and do not appear to constitute disciplinary faults as such, they nevertheless denoted a certain lack of respect towards prisoners and were liable to create a poor image of prison staff. In addition, the CGLPL wanted to draw the prisons administration department’s attention to the abuses which may arise from use of social networking services and the need for compliance with the duty of confidentiality and the principle of professional discretion incumbent upon all officials. In response, the director of the prisons administration pointed out that she was particularly vigilant with regard to the necessity of raising awareness among prison staff about the security measures which they need to take when using social networking services and that several measures had been undertaken to ensure proper balance between liberty of expression and respect for prisoners, in some cases even involving disciplinary sanctions against officers showing lack of respect for their professional obligations. 25 26 This concerns the public area of Facebook profiles. In particular because the prisoners were not identifiable. 36