PARC PRISON, WHICH HOUSES MANY OFFENDERS FROM PEMBROKESHIRE, HAS THE HIGHEST DEATH RATE IN ENGLAND AND WALES

CONCERNS over safety at HMP Parc have deepened following the sudden death of a 49-year-old inmate at the troubled Bridgend prison on Saturday (Mar 1).

South Wales Police confirmed the death, stating that there were no suspicious circumstances and that the coroner has been informed.

The incident adds to an already alarming death toll at HMP Parc, which recorded 17 inmate deaths in 2024—the highest number of any prison in England and Wales.

GROWING CONCERNS OVER DEATHS AND CONDITIONS

G4S, the private security firm responsible for managing the facility, has confirmed the 17 deaths. It is understood that:

• Eight deaths were due to natural causes.
• At least four are believed to have been drug-related.
• Three prisoners were hospitalised following disorder in June.

HMP Parc has been under scrutiny for its handling of violence, drug misuse, and rising mortality rates. In May, families of deceased inmates staged protests outside the prison, demanding accountability and action over claims that authorities had failed to tackle drug misuse inside the facility.

A TROUBLED HISTORY

HMP Parc is one of the UK’s largest Category B prisons, housing adult male offenders, young offenders, and individuals convicted or accused of sex offences.

It houses many offenders from Pembrokeshire, as it is the nearest long-term prison.

Despite G4S stating that it has a “zero-tolerance policy towards drugs”, the prison has been the subject of repeated allegations of mismanagement, security failings, and corruption. Concerns about the availability of illicit substances, organised violence, and deteriorating conditions have been repeatedly raised by campaigners and inmates’ families.

A spokesperson for G4S said: “Next of kin has been informed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends. As with all deaths in custody, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and the cause of death is for the coroner to determine.”

CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND REFORM

Following the latest fatality, HMP Prisons Justice Group has issued a statement condemning the handling of inmate welfare at HMP Parc.

The group claims the death occurred on A3 Wing, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities at the prison to 32 since February 2022.

A spokesperson for the group said: “We believe that once again, staff negligence and security failures have cost a life. Night staff failed to conduct proper welfare checks, and morning handover staff failed to confirm the inmate was breathing or check for signs of life. These basic safeguarding duties were ignored, allowing yet another inmate to die under G4S management.”

The group has also raised serious concerns over reports that a highly potent batch of synthetic cannabis, known as ‘Killer Spice’, is circulating on A3 Wing.

There are fears that the substance may be laced with fentanyl or nitazines, which can cause severe medical distress, including projectile vomiting, loss of consciousness, and extreme reactions.