France, Aug. 29 -- French justice minister Gerald Darmanin on Friday confirmed that part of La Valentine juvenile detention centre in Marseille will be shut after prison watchdogs reported poor conditions for dozens of young inmates.

The decision follows a report from the Controller General of Places of Deprivation of Liberty (CGLPL) submitted on 31 July. Darmanin said he had asked the General Inspectorate of Justice to investigate the site.

"One to two units of the prison will be closed in September for the gradual refurbishment of the cells," said Darmanin.

"This is a very rare recommendation, but I can see no other option than to close in order to reopen in better conditions," Dominique Simonnot, an inspector from the CGLPL, told th...