NEARLY 900 DRUG FINDS, 17 DEATHS IN A YEAR, AND INMATES LOCKED UP FOR 21 HOURS A DAY

A DAMNING inspection report into one of the UK’s largest prisons has revealed a shocking collapse in standards at HMP Parc in Bridgend, where widespread drug use, soaring violence, and 17 inmate deaths defined a year of crisis.

The prison is the nearest long term jail to Pembrokeshire with hundreds of inmates there from our local area.

The unannounced inspection in January 2025 uncovered nearly 900 incidents of drug finds in 2024 alone, with half of prisoners saying it was easy to get drugs inside. On the prison’s A and B wings, 70% of inmates said drugs were easy to obtain, and 34% admitted developing a drug or alcohol problem after arriving.

The prison, privately run by G4S, was once hailed as a flagship establishment. But the report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons lays bare the reality of a facility overwhelmed by addiction, violence, and staff turnover, all following a change in management contract and the departure of the respected long-time governor Janet Wallsgrove.

“The prison had become far too violent,” the report states, with a 60% rise in recorded self-harm since the last inspection. Between February and May 2024 alone, eight inmates died from suspected drug-related causes, many linked to synthetic opioids like nitazenes.

SHOCKING FINDINGS

894 drug finds in a year—more than any other similar prison

17 inmate deaths in 2024, including multiple overdoses

30% of all drug tests were positive

Up to 21 hours a day in cells for many prisoners

Self-harm incidents up 60% since 2022

41% of inmates reported being bullied by other prisoners

Inspectors found that many prisoners were left idle, with poor access to work, education or training. Nearly a fifth were unemployed and locked up for most of the day. Even those motivated to work or learn were trapped by delays in allocation.

“The regime was inconsistent and left many inmates bored, frustrated and hungry,” the report adds. Food was deemed inadequate by the majority of prisoners, with meagre portions and little fresh produce. The prison shop lacked healthy options, and fruit and vegetables were scarce.

LEADERSHIP TURMOIL AND DRONE DELIVERIES

After Wallsgrove’s departure in 2023, her replacement lasted less than a year. The management vacuum coincided with a new contract awarded to G4S, a transition that “destabilised the prison” and saw violence and drug use spiral.

Despite an impressive effort from security teams—who intercepted 894 drugs packages—illicit substances continued to pour in. Parc became a prime example of drone-facilitated trafficking, with deliveries often targeting vulnerable windows in cells.

The prison had no enhanced gate security for staff, and the rollout of secure windows was still ongoing at the time of the inspection. Drug-detection tech developed with Bath University was one of the few bright spots, but inspectors said it was not enough to stem the tide.

The disciplinary system was also in disarray. In 2024, over 5,000 adjudications were recorded, a quarter of which were abandoned or delayed. There were also over 800 incidents involving use of force by staff, yet bodycam footage was only available in 54% of cases.

HOPE UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

There were signs of hope. Since new director Will Styles took over in June 2024, no further drug-related or self-inflicted deaths had occurred. Staff morale, recruitment and retention were improving.

Styles introduced a two-year recovery plan and stabilised the leadership team. Inspectors praised his honest self-assessment and noted the beginnings of a cultural shift. Enhanced collaboration with the education provider and initiatives like ‘Parc Tank’ (a business incubator for inmates) were flagged as positive steps.

MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE FAILURES

Healthcare services, transferred from G4S to NHS Wales in 2023, were still under-resourced. Dental care was so limited that routine treatments were unavailable, with prisoners encouraged to report pain just to get seen. Mental health services were swamped, and one inmate had waited over two months for a hospital transfer.

The report highlighted 1,962 self-harm incidents in the previous 12 months, and found the mental health referral process overly complex and underperforming. Over 500 prisoners had been referred to the mental health team in the past three months alone.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND PATH AHEAD

Inspectors issued 14 key concerns—eight of them requiring urgent action. These include high violence, poor mental health provision, weak offender management, inadequate food, and lack of work or training opportunities.

Despite G4S’s claims of “solid progress,” the inspectorate made it clear that major reforms are still needed. If the current director remains and receives the backing he needs, the report says Parc “may begin to recover.”

A spokesperson for G4S said: “We are encouraged that HMIP recognises that we are making progress. We are determined to ensure the men in our care are safe, supported and can feel optimistic about their futures.”

But with more than 1,700 men inside and nearly 900 drug finds in a single year, the question remains: how did one of Britain’s most successful prisons fall so far, so fast?

IF YOU farm in Pembrokeshire and can demonstrate your farm’s use of the latest technological methods to promote progressive, sustainable agriculture then the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society encourage you to enter the prestigious Baron de Rutzen Award.

Tim Johns, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President, said, “We are looking for local Pembrokeshire farmers, under the age of 45, who can demonstrate their farm’s use of the latest technological methods to promote progressive, sustainable agriculture. They also need to show consideration for the environment and habitat sensitivity on their farm as well as present an aesthetically pleasing example of farming in the county. The competition welcomes all those in the livestock and arable sectors to enter.”

Last year’s winners of the Award were Andrew and Jane Phillips of Windsor Farm, Lamphey. They farm 1,100 acres, with 3,000 breeding sheep and lambs. A herd of British Blue cross Limousin suckler cows sired by a Limousin bull and all calves are sold as weaned. The arable side of the business includes 80 acres of winter and spring barley which is mostly used for stock consumption. The surplus is sold. They grow 150 acres of maize which is used in a Totally Mixed Ration (TMR) for their sheep. Again, the surplus is sold to dairy farms. Some land is rented out for growing potatoes and leeks. The autumn season sees the general public invited in to buy some of the six acres of Pumpkins they grow for the Halloween market. Besides this, they are also involved with the holiday business by renting out two shepherd’s huts for visitors.

Baron John Fredrick De Rutzen was President of Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society in 1936 and the Baron de Rutzen Trophy was produced in his memory. The third Baron served in the Welsh Guards and tragically died, aged 36, in 1944.

This year’s entrants must be fully practising farmers within the county of Pembrokeshire and were under the age of 45 years on 1 January 2025. Entries can either be by nomination or direct application online on the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society website. Click here to apply: Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society Baron de Rutzen Award 2025

The closing date for nominations and applications is at noon on Monday, 30 June 2025.

First Wales trailblazer launched as part of UK Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ plan

A MAJOR £10 million boost to employment support in Wales has been announced as part of the UK Government’s drive to tackle economic inactivity and “Get Britain Working” again.

The first trailblazer programme in Wales, launched in Denbighshire on Monday (Apr 21), will roll out new tailored employment support including one-to-one mentoring, counselling, wellbeing services, and health condition management.

The programme was launched jointly by UK Minister for Employment Alison McGovern and Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant, marking a shift away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach in favour of support targeted to local needs.

The investment will help people with CV writing, job searching, mental health, and managing health issues that may be holding them back from employment. The trailblazer areas – Denbighshire, Blaenau Gwent, and Neath Port Talbot – were selected for their high levels of economic inactivity and will be among nine areas across the UK to pilot these reforms.

During their visit to Working Denbighshire, both Ministers met Work Coaches and saw first-hand the services being offered under the new scheme.

Minister for Employment Alison McGovern said: “Everyone deserves to thrive, including those living with long-term health conditions.

“No one will be written off. This £10 million investment will help connect health and employment services and deliver real change under our Plan for Change.

“Good work provides both dignity and security, and this trailblazer will help people across Wales access that support.”

Welsh Government Minister Jack Sargeant added:

“This investment is an important step in our joint approach to supporting people back into good employment.

“By integrating health and employment support, and tailoring it to each community’s needs, we aim to provide truly joined-up services.

“The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring no one is left behind.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

“This £10 million trailblazer will deliver support where it’s most needed – in Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, and Neath Port Talbot.

“We know this targeted approach works and builds on the success of initiatives like the Young Person’s Guarantee.

“Helping people into work improves physical and mental health and raises living standards.”

The trailblazers are part of the UK Government’s wider £240 million Get Britain Working reforms, which include:

Transforming Jobcentres to focus on skills and careers

Guaranteeing young people the chance to earn or learn

Expanding mental health support to help people stay in work

The Wales trailblazer follows the first scheme launched earlier this month in South Yorkshire, which focuses on supporting employers to hire people with health conditions. Upcoming trailblazers will also launch in Greater Manchester, the North East, York and North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and three areas in London.

In parallel with the trailblazer initiative, the UK Government has also:

Increased the National Living Wage and Minimum Wage

Introduced the Employment Rights Bill to create more secure jobs

Committed to deeper devolution, supporting local and devolved governments to boost regional growth

The investment into Wales reflects the Prime Minister’s pledge to reset relationships with devolved administrations and empower them to play a leading role in economic growth under the UK’s Plan for Change.