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Crime

Ex-prison officer exposes failures and mismanagement at HMP Parc

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A FORMER prison officer has come forward with allegations of systemic failings at HMP Parc in Bridgend, claiming that neglect, a toxic workplace culture, and management shortcomings have jeopardised inmate welfare and staff safety. Speaking under the pseudonym “Jack” to protect his identity, the whistleblower detailed his experiences, including alleged safeguarding failures in the lead-up to the death of inmate Shay Andrews and wider issues at the G4S-operated facility.

Jack, who worked at HMP Parc for several years, revealed how insufficient training, staff misconduct, and managerial failings created an environment where inmate welfare was neglected, and the prison’s fundamental purpose of rehabilitation was undermined.

B wing at Parc Prison, Bridgend (Image: Herald)

Allegations of failures and neglect

Jack’s most damning allegations centred on the death of Shay Andrews, a 23-year-old inmate who suffered from a medical condition that made him resistant to pain and difficult to restrain. “When Shay died, officers were cheering,” Jack said. “They were relieved they wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore, but that behaviour was sickening. Shay was a human being who needed support, not disdain.”

He also described a culture of neglect, where understaffing and lack of training put prisoners and officers at risk. Jack recalled being left alone on a wing during his third day of shadowing. “I didn’t feel safe. I wasn’t prepared, and I didn’t even know where to find the paperwork I needed to do the job properly,” he said.

The prison officer we interviewed did not want to be publicly named (Image: Artist’s impression)

Jack further alleged that a manager’s romantic relationship with a prison officer contributed to serious professional misconduct. According to Jack, this officer was responsible for conducting welfare checks on Cameron Anthony, another inmate whose death in custody has drawn scrutiny. Jack claimed that the officer failed to carry out the required ACT (Assessment, Care in Custody, and Teamwork) checks, leaving a gap of over five hours. “Instead of addressing the failure, senior management instructed that Cameron be counted in the roll call despite being unresponsive,” Jack said. “They said they’d ‘deal with it afterwards.’”

Jack also alleged that officers falsified records, logging welfare checks and key worker sessions that had not actually been conducted. “I’ve seen officers scroll through previous reports and copy-paste details into new ones to make it look like the checks were done. It’s appalling and puts lives at risk,” he said.

Cultural and systemic issues

Jack painted a grim picture of a toxic workplace culture at HMP Parc, where officers allegedly prioritised control over care. “It’s all power trips and bullying. Some officers think having the keys makes them superior, but it should be about working with the prisoners to help them rehabilitate,” he said.

Prisoners’ basic needs were also often ignored, according to Jack. He cited examples of inadequate food portions, delays in delivering mail, and neglect of religious dietary requirements. “I’ve seen prisoners go without proper meals, receiving just a cheese roll, a piece of fruit, and a packet of crisps. I’ve seen inmates go out to work in the winter with holes in their shoes because they had no family to send clothes,” he said.

February, 17 inmate deaths have been recorded at HMP Parc (Image HMP training exercise, stock file)

New allegations from other former officers

Fresh allegations have emerged regarding additional inmate deaths at HMP Parc, bringing the total to 17 deaths in the past 10 months. Former officer Jim (not his real name) has come forward with claims of safeguarding failures linked to the deaths of Michael “Mikey” Horton, Warren Manners, and Shay Andrews.

“These three deaths should never have happened,” Jim said. He described widespread issues with corruption, including “laughable” staff searches and failures to prevent frequent drone drops of contraband. Jim also highlighted a “revolving door” of overstretched staff, which he claimed left them unable to perform their duties properly.

Mikey Horton’s family, devastated by his death, expressed outrage at the alleged failings. “We are appalled,” they said.

Since late February, 17 inmate deaths have been recorded at HMP Parc. According to G4S, these included five drug-related deaths, three self-inflicted, eight of natural causes, and one of unknown causes.

Jim also alleged that G4S denied claims of staff working 24-hour shifts until evidence was presented, forcing the company to admit it had occurred in “unusual” circumstances. The company stated James had been dismissed for dishonesty, which he denies, but did not dispute his core allegations.

The number of former prison offers coming forward with new allegations regarding the prison is growing (Image: File)

Broader issues at HMP Parc

HMP Parc, one of the largest prisons in the UK, has faced ongoing scrutiny due to high inmate death rates, drug smuggling, and violence. In 2024 alone, the prison recorded 17 deaths, many linked to synthetic opioids like nitazenes.

Jack’s testimony adds to concerns about how the prison is managed, with allegations of chronic understaffing, inconsistent regimes, and a lack of meaningful rehabilitation opportunities for inmates. “They’re locked in their cells for up to 18 hours a day because there aren’t enough officers to run the wings. That frustration and tension could be avoided with better management,” Jack said.

Images captured as officials dealt with a major disturbance (described by many as a riot) at Parc Prison in June 2024 (Images: Herald)

Calls for accountability

Jack has called for G4S to lose its contract to run HMP Parc, arguing that the prison’s private management prioritises profit over rehabilitation. “They’ve failed the prisoners, the staff, and the community. If prisoners aren’t rehabilitated, they’ll come out worse than they went in, and that’s a danger to society,” he said.

The former officer urged other staff to come forward. “Every story matters. These inmates are someone’s family, and they deserve to be treated with dignity. Change starts with us speaking out.”

G4S Responds to allegations

In response to the claims, a spokesperson for HMP Parc said: “G4S cannot comment publicly on individual death in custody cases in advance of the Coroners’ Inquests, and it is hugely concerning that a former employee has chosen to do so.”

The spokesperson also emphasised recent efforts to improve conditions at the prison:
“Over the last several months, the team at Parc has worked at pace to make improvements at the prison with a focus on six key areas – staffing, safety, security, drugs, regime, and respect. We are pleased to see outcomes improving in these areas.”

On the issue of inmate activities and staff training, the spokesperson added: “Men take part in around 30 hours of purposeful activity a week. Men also have access to a level of additional out-of-cell association time, exceeding that delivered in most closed prisons. Our Prison Custody Officer training meets HMPPS requirements.”

Addressing other allegations, G4S stated:

  • “Staffing levels are based on the same staff-to-prisoner ratios that are used in all closed prisons, public or private.”
  • “Significant effort and resources are used to mitigate the ingress of illicit substances, and we work with partners at a local and national level, including South Wales Police.”
  • “We have identified improvements that can be made in terms of meal options and portion sizing, and we are working with our catering provider on those issues. We don’t recognise the allegations about the religious service provision at Parc, which is good.”
  • “We check parcels and mail to ensure they are not impregnated with drugs or contraband, which sometimes causes delays. Carrying out these checks saves lives.”

Jack’s testimony paints a troubling picture of life inside HMP Parc, but G4S insists that steps are being taken to address these issues. With inquests into multiple deaths pending, scrutiny of the prison’s operations remains intense.

As the Coroners’ Inquests approach, the spotlight is firmly on HMP Parc and the systemic challenges facing the UK’s prison system.

Crime

Man avoids jail despite possessing child abuse images

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A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been spared immediate custody after police found almost 70 indecent images of children on his mobile phone — including one image of a child aged around three whose hands and ankles were bound.

Andrew Davies, aged 36, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Apr 1), having earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children.

The court heard that officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at Davies’ home on Brewery Street in November 2022. Davies was present at the property and handed over a mobile phone along with the PIN code to unlock it.

Upon examination of the device, officers discovered 67 illegal images. These included nine category A images — the most serious classification — 14 category B images, and 44 category C images. The images had been downloaded and stored in a password-protected application.

Prosecuting, Sian Cutter said one of the images showed a child estimated to be three years old with their limbs restrained. She told the court that all of the material was accessible on the device and had been intentionally downloaded.

In mitigation, defence barrister Ryan Bowen said Davies was “under no illusion as to the seriousness of his offending”. He said the offences dated back to 2019, and that the matter had been hanging over Davies for several years.

Mr Bowen added: “He has no previous convictions and is of otherwise good character. He accepts responsibility for his actions and has shown insight and a willingness to address his behaviour. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Catherine Richards told Davies: “The possession and viewing of child sexual abuse images causes direct harm to real children. It is a very serious aggravating factor that some of the images involve children as young as three.”

Davies was handed three prison terms of eight, four and two months, to run concurrently, making a total of eight months. The sentence was suspended for two years.

He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 25 rehabilitation activity days. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

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Crime

Leaked messages point to leadership crisis at HMP Parc

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Staff mocked suicide and bragged about assaults as G4S failed to intervene

A CULTURE of violence, cruelty and neglect flourished unchecked at HMP Parc — which houses many prisoners from Pembrokeshire — while prison leadership appeared to look the other way, a cache of leaked messages obtained by The Herald suggests.

The explosive text and social media messages — exchanged between serving and former officers at the privately-run Bridgend jail — reveal not only a disturbing level of misconduct among some frontline staff, but a prison seemingly adrift, without effective oversight or internal accountability.

Officers joked about suicide attempts, bragged about violent assaults, and casually described provoking vulnerable inmates into confrontation — all in the open, with no reference to line managers, disciplinary consequences, or intervention from senior staff.

In one message, an officer writes: “Let’s push him to go tomorrow so we can drop him.” Another adds: “They smashed him into the shower lol,” with a colleague replying: “Good! I hope they hurt him too.”

In a separate conversation, a prisoner who had slit his wrists is described as “daft” and someone who should be sent “to a f lonnie bin.” One officer joked: “He’ll tie a bag around his neck,” followed by: “Too much paperwork,” and “Don’t have to do paperwork if you pretend not to see it.”

Parc Prison, Bridgend (Pic: Herald)

No fear of consequences

The messages, some of which were shared on social media last summer, contain no suggestion that those involved feared being caught or disciplined. In fact, the tone throughout is brazen, boastful and often gleeful — pointing to what campaigners now describe as a complete failure of leadership inside the prison.

“There’s no mention of superiors, no sense that anyone was trying to stop this,” one prison reform advocate told The Herald. “That tells you everything you need to know about the culture at the top.”

The Herald was the first to report on the leaked messages, which have since been seen by national media including the BBC, PA and The Independent. Their contents have now become part of an ongoing criminal investigation by South Wales Police.

Ten officers arrested — but no managers held accountable

Since September 2024, ten officers at HMP Parc have been arrested on suspicion of assault and misconduct in public office.

Four arrests were made on 20 September 2024, but all four individuals were later released without charge. In January 2025, six more officers were detained, with five bailed until the end of April and one released under investigation.

South Wales Police told The Herald: “The investigation remains ongoing, and officers are continuing to work closely with G4S.”

Despite the scale of the investigation, no senior managers or governors at the prison have been suspended, dismissed, or formally investigated. G4S has confirmed that three of the officers arrested in the first phase have been dismissed, and a fourth remains suspended pending disciplinary action.

Campaigners say that is not enough.

“If this level of abuse was happening openly among officers, leadership either knew and did nothing, or they were completely unaware of the day-to-day culture inside their own prison,” one former prison inspector said. “Either way, it’s a failure.”

Seventeen deaths in one year

The crisis at Parc has unfolded against a grim backdrop: seventeen inmates died in the prison during 2024, making it the deadliest prison in the UK that year.

In a letter to the House of Lords’ Justice and Home Affairs Committee in October, Prisons Minister James Timpson confirmed that the Ministry of Justice’s anti-corruption unit is actively investigating the facility.

In December, MPs were told that organised criminal gangs were smuggling drugs and weapons into Parc via children’s nappies and industrial drones. A riot in 2023 led to the replacement of the prison’s director by mutual agreement, with new leadership installed — but problems appear to have persisted.

“Catastrophic safeguarding failure”

In March 2025, The Herald reported on a separate police investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a vulnerable young inmate on X1 Wing. The victim, aged 18–19, was reportedly scalded with boiling water and forced to perform a sexual act at knifepoint by a known high-risk offender.

Campaigners questioned how the attacker — flagged in his OASys risk assessment as dangerous and premeditated — was allowed to share a cell with a vulnerable young prisoner.

Zack Griffiths, of the HMP Prisons Justice Group, said: “A vulnerable young person was left exposed to a violent, dangerous offender, and the consequences have been devastating. This isn’t just an individual crime — it’s a catastrophic failure of the prison system to safeguard those in its care.”

G4S response and silence from above

In a statement, a spokesperson for G4S said: “We are absolutely committed to rooting out any wrongdoing. Of the four individuals who were arrested and released without charge by South Wales Police, three have been dismissed from the company and one remains suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary process.
Our staff are expected to treat everyone with dignity and respect and we have a zero-tolerance approach to dealing with any staff behaviour that falls short of our standards. The vast majority of our staff are hardworking and honest.”

The Prison Reform Trust declined to provide an on-the-record statement, but confirmed they have been hearing concerns from prisoners at HMP Parc and offered to speak off the record about broader issues within the prison system.

Calls grow for independent inquiry

With police investigations continuing, no charges brought, and no senior leadership held publicly accountable, calls are growing for a fully independent public inquiry into how HMP Parc has been run — and how such a corrosive environment was allowed to take hold.

“This isn’t just about a few bad officers,” one whistleblower said. “This is a broken culture, and it starts at the top.”

Parc, the largest prison in Wales, remains one of the few in the UK run by a private contractor. For families of those who died behind its walls, and for the growing number of victims still inside, answers cannot come soon enough.

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Crime

Driver found slumped at wheel was three times over drink-drive limit

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A MOTORIST found slumped over his steering wheel with the engine still running has admitted being three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Robert McMillan, 44, was spotted by another driver at around 1:00pm on September 19 while parked near St Florence. Concerned for his welfare, the member of the public called police.

“A member of the public contacted the police as they were concerned that he’d either been drinking, taking drugs, or had a medical issue,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“The engine was running and when the member of the public asked him if he was ok, the defendant gave him a thumbs-up.”

Following his arrest, a blood sample revealed McMillan had 272 micrograms of alcohol in his system—the legal limit is 80.

This week McMillan pleaded guilty to drink-driving. In mitigation, he claimed he had consumed a pint of alcohol at a pub in Penally and, after suspecting he had a flat tyre, pulled into a layby and drank three-quarters of a bottle of wine he had in the car.

“This led to his high reading as normally he doesn’t drink alcohol like this,” said probation officer Julie Norman.

However, the Crown disputed this version of events. CCTV footage played in court captured the member of the public telling officers that McMillan had fallen out of his vehicle.

McMillan was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said the offence would have serious repercussions.

“For the past 17 years, Mr McMillan has worked for a mental health charity based in Cardiff, but his role involves a significant amount of driving,” she said. “His employers are now going to have to reconsider his position. This is going to have a huge impact on both himself and others. He’s disappointed in himself and is extremely sorry.”

Magistrates disqualified McMillan from driving for 28 months and imposed a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

Due to the level of alcohol in his system, McMillan is now classed as a high-risk offender and must prove he is medically fit to drive before reapplying for his licence.

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