Has Zack Griffiths been locked up for speaking out?

ZACK GRIFFITHS, a prominent whistleblower and prison reform campaigner, has been recalled to prison and is now facing fresh criminal charges — sparking outrage across Wales and beyond.

The 35-year-old, who has helped lead protests over the management of HMP Parc in Bridgend, was arrested at Cardiff Crown Court last week and is expected to remain in custody until at least October. Supporters have called his detention “a national scandal” and “a clear attempt to criminalise whistleblowing.”

The prison houses hundreds of inmates from Pembrokeshire, as it is the our nearest long-term jail and the largest in Wales.

Campaigners — including bereaved families, justice groups and former inmates — say the authorities are targeting Griffiths because he has consistently spoken out about deaths, alleged abuse and neglect at the G4S-run prison.

Arrested, recalled and facing new charges
Griffiths was arrested at court while attending a scheduled hearing. A video widely shared on social media shows officers detaining him under Section 43 of the Prison Act 1952 — an obscure offence linked to blackmail involving unauthorised prison communications.

That blackmail charge has since been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, with no case to answer. Griffiths now faces a charge of malicious communications under the new Online Safety Act — an offence that could lead to further time in custody.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police, when asked by The Herald about the arrest, said:
“South Wales Police neither confirms nor denies names put to us in connection to an arrest and nor do we provide guidance on names put to us.”

Why he was on licence
Griffiths was on licence at the time, following a 12-month sentence handed down in November 2024. He had pleaded guilty to transmitting an image from prison and sending offensive communications, after posting a video online which showed HMP Parc officers restraining an inmate.

The court ruled the footage breached prison security and imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting certain individuals or sharing related material. Breaching such conditions — including through alleged malicious communications — allows the Probation Service to recall an individual to custody.

“The only one telling the truth”

Griffiths is the co-founder of Predator Awareness, a group originally set up to expose child grooming gangs and institutional failings. More recently, he co-led the HMP Prison Justice Group, which has campaigned for transparency and reform at UK prisons, particularly HMP Parc.

Since early 2024, he has been one of the most outspoken critics of G4S and South Wales Police — sharing testimonies from families, whistleblowers, and former officers, and helping to organise vigils and protests outside Parc prison.

“Zack is the only one who has dared to name names and shine a light on what’s going on,” said Sean Wilson, a fellow campaigner. “And now he’s been silenced. The system wants him gone.”

Tom Blewitt, another organiser, posted: “He’s had a full recall. They’re panicking because we’re getting too close to the truth. But this won’t stop us — it just proves we’re right.”

On Griffiths’ official Facebook page, his partner shared a heartbreaking message: “I don’t have my partner here to hold me anymore. He sacrificed himself for the greater good… My family is broken.”

“He gave us a voice”: Zack’s final protest

Just days before his arrest, Griffiths organised what would become his final public protest — a highly visible demonstration outside HMP Parc attended by dozens of bereaved families and national media outlets. Around twenty people stood together at the gates of the troubled Bridgend prison, demanding that G4S be stripped of its contract and that urgent reforms be introduced to tackle what they described as a “drug epidemic” and “mental health emergency” behind the walls.

Among those present were the families of men who had died inside Parc — some from suspected spice overdoses, others by suicide. Mothers, siblings, and partners spoke candidly about their pain, the unanswered questions surrounding their loved ones’ deaths, and their fears for those still incarcerated. Protesters carried placards and gave interviews to TV and radio crews, helping to catapult the issue onto the national agenda.

Clare Jones, whose 29-year-old son Ross died in Parc in 2023, said: “This needs to stop. Ten days before Ross died, another boy passed away. They were warned to make improvements — nothing changed. Zack was the only one who gave us a voice.”

Frances Jones, who lost her nephew Michael “Mikey” Horton to suicide inside Parc at just 19, said: “There were 33 families like us, maybe more now. Zack helped bring us together. We believe justice will come — but not without a fight.”

Brandon Lee-Jones, Mikey’s cousin, added: “He committed suicide, but no-one was there to help him. He felt so alone. Zack gave us a reason to keep pushing for answers.”

The Herald understands the protest attracted widespread media coverage and placed significant pressure on authorities — just days before Griffiths’ sudden recall to prison.

HMP Parc: A prison in crisis
The arrest comes amid mounting scrutiny of conditions inside Parc. Since the start of 2025, at least seven inmates have died at the Category B private prison, with causes ranging from suspected overdoses and suicide to alleged neglect.

In January, six prison officers were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Investigations are ongoing, and G4S has confirmed it is cooperating with the Ministry of Justice.

“My son died in Parc last year. We still haven’t had an inquest,” one grieving mother told The Herald. “Zack was the only one who cared. Now they’ve taken him too.”

Legal support grows
A fundraiser titled “Justice for Zack Griffiths – Support His Fight” has been launched to help cover legal costs. It has already raised hundreds of pounds, with messages of support from across the UK.

Sophie Lewis, who started the campaign, said:
“Zack stood up when nobody else would. Now we must stand up for him. This is about truth and accountability.”

Concerns have been raised that Griffiths’ legal team needs strengthening ahead of a potential hearing at Swansea Crown Court later this month.

Demands for inquiry and intervention
There are now growing calls for a public inquiry into the management of HMP Parc and the handling of Griffiths’ arrest by South Wales Police.

“If speaking up about dead prisoners gets you jailed, but those responsible walk free — we don’t live in a democracy anymore,” said one campaigner. “We live in fear.”

Several groups are calling on the Justice Secretary, the Parole Board and the Independent Office for Police Conduct to intervene.

“You can’t jail the whistleblower and walk away,” said one supporter. “This country needs to wake up.”

What comes next
Griffiths remains in custody and is expected to be held until at least October 2025 pending the outcome of the malicious communications charge. A court date has not yet been set.

Meanwhile, protests calling for his release are gaining momentum, both on the streets and online. Supporters say they will not stop until Griffiths is freed and a full inquiry is launched into what they describe as “the Parc Prison cover-up.”

PEMBROKESHIRE’S Bluestone National Park Resort is set to make history by becoming the UK’s first fossil fuel free luxury family holiday park in 2025.

The resort, located near Narberth, has unveiled ambitious operational plans to eliminate fossil fuels from all aspects of its operations. Bluestone will purchase only renewable electricity through its partnership with Ecotricity – widely recognised as Britain’s greenest energy provider – while replacing traditional fuels with sustainable alternatives. These include bioLPG in place of mains gas, and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of diesel and kerosene. Solar power generated by the resort’s on-site 3.2MW solar park already meets a third of its annual electricity demand.

Bluestone has long demonstrated a commitment to sustainable practices. In 2008, it became one of the first in the world to heat a water park – the Blue Lagoon – entirely without fossil fuels. Since then, the resort has continued to reduce its carbon footprint, and the completion of the solar park in 2024 marked a major milestone on its journey.

The resort’s approach extends beyond its own operations. Two external grounds maintenance contractors working on-site have also now transitioned to using electric machinery and HVO fuels in support of the wider sustainability mission.

In 2024, both Bluestone and Ecotricity received top-three rankings in their sectors by Which?, with Bluestone recognised as one of the UK’s best holiday resorts, and Ecotricity ranked among the leading eco energy providers.

The partnership supports Bluestone’s efforts to eliminate all fossil fuels across its scope one and two emissions – those generated directly by the resort and through purchased energy. The resort is also aiming to become entirely self-sufficient in renewable electricity generation within the next decade.

Marten Lewis, Bluestone’s Sustainability Director, said:
“Bluestone’s partnership with Ecotricity showcases there is another way forward. There’s a genuine synergy between our two companies, shaped by visionary founders who believed in putting people and the planet at the heart of business. In 2004, Bluestone’s founder, William McNamara, began the regenerative tourism movement here in Wales by transforming a 500-acre dairy farm into a pioneering, sustainable resort – a vision laid out in his original green book the same year the UN coined the term ESG.”

Mr Lewis added that Bluestone’s solar park project includes a long-term partnership with Swansea University to monitor biodiversity at the site, with the goal of producing influential academic research over the coming years.

“Bluestone doesn’t aim to have zero impact – we want to have a positive impact with everything we do,” he said.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said:
“Big congrats to Bluestone. From ditching intensive farming in favour of regenerative tourism to building a new solar park – this is a holiday park that fits with our values. I’m pleased Bluestone has chosen Ecotricity to provide the balance of green energy they need to go fossil free. We’re looking forward to helping them bring their green ambitions to life.”

More information about Bluestone’s sustainability journey and bookings can be found at: bluestonewales.com

STARRING Tony-Nominee Jeremy Jordan and Olivier-Nominee Frances Mayli McCann, this award-winning, cult-favourite production Bonnie and Clyde The Musical  (including Best New Musical – What’s On Stage Awards 2023) re-tells the unbelievable true story of America’s most infamous couple, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Watch the lovers as they go on a crime spree on the Torch Theatre screen this May.

Captured in stunning, world-class quality, the musical follows the most notorious lovers and bank robbers who take the country by storm in a sexy and compelling adventure. Recorded live at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, discover the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire nation.

At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie and Clyde went from being two small-town nobodies in west Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes who created a serious headache for the law enforcements. From kidnappings to murders in the 1930’s, the lovers robbed gas stations, restaurants, and smalltown stores in the areas of New Mexico, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas and it is believed that they murdered at least nine police officers and four civilians before being shot and killed in an ambush near Sailes, Louisiana.  

Bonnie and Clyde The Musical can be seen on the Torch Theatre screen on Thursday 1 May at 7pm. Tickets: £15.00 | £13.00 Cons | £8.50 Under 26. Visit the website for further details www.torchtheatre.co.uk or phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267.