News

Another inmate death at Parc Prison: The latest tragedy in an ongoing crisis?

Published

3 days ago

June 28, 2024

PARC Prison in Bridgend, Wales, has been struck by yet another sad event, marking the latest in a series of inmate deaths that have plagued the institution this year. This most recent death, which occurred on 5 June 2024, involves Pembrokeshire inmate Robert Royan, who was 71-years-old. Royan’s death is the eleventh this year, and has worried families and friends of those in the prison, who are assuming that the death was probably avoidable.

It remains to be seen if the death is linked to natural causes or drug use, however this newspaper understands that Royan died in hospital following admission, and not at the prison itself. The prison said he had been in hospital since April.

***ROBERT ROYAN, IN JAIL FOR ARSON, DIED ON JUNE 5, AGED 71***

From Pembroke Dock, Royan was a known drug user. Had a criminal record for amphetamines, which The Herald reported on in 2017. He was jailed in 2018 for his fourth arson offence – setting fire to a flat. Although he had previously confessed to setting hundreds of fires over the years – many of them were in the Tenby area.

The prison, run by private security firm G4S, has been under intense scrutiny following a spate of deaths linked to drug misuse, particularly synthetic opioids like Spice and Nitazene. The situation inside the prison appears to remain critical, with another protest scheduled outside the prison on July 29.

***VAN LOADS OF SPECIALIST OFFICERS ARRIVING AT PARC ON MAY 31***

In recent weeks, the prison has also experienced significant unrest. Just last month, on 31 May 2024, a riot involving around twenty inmates erupted, leading to several prisoners requiring hospital treatment. The unrest, centered on the B3 wing of the prison, saw emergency services, including riot vans and police, deployed to restore order.

G4S denies this was a riot, and calls what happened ‘two separate incidents’. G4S also said that anyone injured was the result of a fight, which was an altercation between three prisoners and not in the ‘separate’ incident, as they call it, involving 20 prisoners.

It clearly was – requiring the assistance of specialist officers from outside the prison to put it down, something we previously reported on.

The management of Parc Prison has come under fire, with calls for the UK government to intervene and take control from G4S. Heather Whitehead, the former director of the prison, stepped down earlier this month amid the ongoing crisis. Will Styles, who has a long tenure in the prison service, has been appointed as her replacement.

last months protest at parc prison, another one is scheduled for june 29 (Video: bbc WaleS)

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is currently investigating the deaths at Parc Prison, aiming to uncover the root causes and prevent further tragedies. Meanwhile, the families of deceased inmates continue to demand justice and better conditions for those still incarcerated, protesting outside the prison and calling for urgent reforms.

This report marks the first confirmation of the death of Robert Royan at Parc Prison, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and action to address the ongoing issues within the facility.

A HMP Parc spokesperson told The Pembrokeshire Herald on Friday: “Mr Robert Royan passed away on Wednesday 05 June 2024. His next of kin have 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.”

Regards the disturbance last month, the G4S said: “On Friday 31 May, two separate, short-lived incidents were resolved by onsite G4S staff.”

“All 20 prisoners involved were in their cells, locked up and compliant by the time the requested mutual aid arrived and were deployed to the unit.

“No prisoners or staff were injured in this incident

“The second incident was unrelated and involved an altercation between three prisoners, who required hospital treatment.”

As the investigation continues, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Parc, hoping for swift and effective measures to bring an end to these tragic events.

News

Labour and Plaid Cymru are expected to win Pembrokeshire seats

Published

51 mins ago

June 30, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

LABOUR and Plaid Cymru are expected to win the two new general election seats of Mid and South Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion Preseli, with as much as half of all votes, according to the highest estimates of 12 election polls.

In collated results of different polls from Britain Predicts, The Economist, electionmaps, Electoral Calculus, Focaldata, the FT, Ipsos, More in Common, Savanta, Survation, WeThink, and YouGov, Labour is expected to win the Mid and South Pembrokeshire seat with vote percentages ranging from 33 per cent to as high as 50 per cent.

For the top three parties in Mid and South Pembrokeshire, the poll figures as a percentage of votes are listed below.

Labour: 39, 41, 42, 45, 42, 48, 43, 50, 47, 45, 44, and 33.

Conservative: 28, 27, 27, 20, 26, 23, 30, 29, 24, 36, 22, and 29.

Reform: 14, 15, 15, 23, 16, 17, 8, 9, 15, 14, 20, and 19.

The fourth poll, Electoral Calculus, puts Reform as the second-highest polling party for the seat, with 23 per cent, against 20 for the Conservatives.

Ceredigion Preseli polls are predicting a Plaid Cymru win, ranging from a narrow 27 per cent of votes win to as much as 48 per cent.

It includes a few variations about who is in second, third and fourth positions.

Plaid Cymru: 36, 34, 36, 48, 33, 42, 39, 27 – a narrow win over Labour by one percentage point, 42, 34, 37, and 36.

Labour: 21, 22, 23, 16, 24, 28, 22, 26, 21, 23, 28, and 14.

Conservatives: 20, 13, 11, 12, 12, 10, 14, 19, 12, 15, 13, and 14.

The Reform party polls see some potential upsets for Labour and the Conservatives, with the party gaining third place in four polls (one jointly), and even second, in one poll.

Reform: 8, 14, 13, 17 – ahead of Labour by one point, 14, 9, 10, 12, 10, 7, 10, and 14.

Labour, Conservatives and Reform are all tied on 14 per cent each in the Ceredigion Preseli seat according to the YouGov poll.

Candidates standing in the 15-candidate battle for the two seats are listed below.

Ceredigion Preseli: Ben Lake for Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrat Mark Williams, Welsh Labour’s Jackie Jones, Conservative Aled Thomas, Tomos Barlow for the Green Party, Karl Robert Pollard for Reform UK, and Taghrid Al-Mawed for the Workers Party of Britain.

Mid and South Pembrokeshire: Hanna Andersen (Women’s Equality Party); Alistair Cameron (Welsh Liberal Democrats); Stephen Crabb (Welsh Conservative); Stuart Marchant (Reform UK); James Purchase (Green Party); Vusi Siphika (Independent); Cris Tomos (Plaid Cymru); and Henry Tufnell (Welsh Labour).

Crime

Pembrokeshire man admits to child sex offences in court

Published

57 mins ago

June 30, 2024

Court Reporter

A MAN from Pembrokeshire, Paul Stuart Chesher, 66, has pleaded guilty to serious child sex offences at Swansea Crown Court.

Chesher, from Herbrandston, appeared in court on Friday, 21 June, where he admitted to multiple charges.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, specifically masturbation, without believing she was over 16.

These offences occurred in September 2021.

Additionally, Chesher admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communication with the same victim for sexual gratification, also without reasonably believing she was over 16. This communication occurred between August and October 2021.

Chesher, who has admitted all charges, is scheduled to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court next month.

Community

The Crymych Arms set to host Election Day special

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ON Election Day, the Crymych Arms Community Pub is inviting voters to enjoy a special menu inspired by political figures. After casting your vote on Thursday, drop by for a Voter’s Meal and Drink. The pub, owned by the community, is offering a £10 voucher for the best names of political-themed meals submitted on their Facebook page by noon on Wednesday (Jul 3).

Some imaginative entries already include “Sunak Soup of the Day,” “Farage Fish & Chips,” “Starmer Steak Roll,” “Ap Iorwerth Apple Pie and Custard,” and “Davey Danish Pastry Selection.”

Don’t forget your Voter ID when you head to the polls, and join Crymych Arms for a post-election meal. There’s even talk of an exit poll karaoke!

The pub, which the community purchased in October 2023 after a two-year closure, reopened in December 2023, now stands as the village’s sole pub. Experience the refurbished venue and its lively atmosphere. For pre-bookings, call 01239 831435.