News

Major unrest at Parc Prison following mounting drugs deaths

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

PARC PRISON in South Wales has been engulfed in chaos over the past 24 hours, with a riot involving around twenty prisoners erupting, and growing unrest among inmates and their families.

This comes on the heels of a troubling series of deaths within the prison. The unrest at Parc follows the death of Warren Manners, 38, marking the tenth inmate to die in just over three months.

***Emergency services at the prison at 1.30am on Saturday (Image: Facebook)***

Manners’ death, which occurred earlier this week, has intensified scrutiny on the prison, particularly concerning allegations of drug misuse among prisoners. South Wales Police have reported that four of the ten deaths were related to synthetic opioids, including Nitazene and Spice.

The epicentre of the current disturbance appears to be B3 wing.

As well as the riot, there was a seperate incident involving a number of prisoners, some of whom required hospital treatment.

An air ambulance was dispatched to the prison, but was not needed, it has been confirmed.

Throughout the night, sounds of shouting and unrest have been heard from within the prison, particularly by those gathered in the top car park. Families and friends of inmates have converged outside, expressing their support by honking car horns—a gesture aimed at showing solidarity but one that has drawn mixed reactions from the community.

The scene outside Parc Prison has been marked by both solidarity and tension. Friends and families of inmates have gathered, creating a noisy environment by continuously honking car horns. While some see this as a show of support, others fear it might escalate the situation further. There have been calls by some for more extreme measures, including blocking the prison’s exits with vehicles.

The response from the authorities has been robust yet somewhat fragmented. Reports indicate that the government has taken control of the situation from G4S, the private company managing the prison. Riot vans and police have been deployed to handle the unrest, and some staff members appear to be leaving, possibly indicating a shift in control or an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

A significant challenge throughout this crisis has been the lack of clear communication from prison authorities. Families of inmates have expressed frustration over the sparse information available, leading to widespread speculation and misinformation. Social media has been abuzz with various unverified claims about the conditions inside the prison and the reasons behind the riot.

The spate of deaths at Parc Prison has been linked to drug misuse, with synthetic opioids playing a central role. In March, the prisons and probation ombudsman, Adrian Usher, issued a stark warning urging inmates to dispose of synthetic drugs like Spice. Despite these warnings, the drug-related deaths have continued, raising serious questions about the prison’s ability to control substance misuse within its walls.

A HMP Parc spokesperson told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “Staff at HMP Parc swiftly resolved two short-lived incidents involving prisoners on Friday, with no officers injured.

“Those involved will receive the strongest possible punishments, including criminal prosecution.”

“There were two short-lived incidents at HMP Parc on Friday 31 May. One involved approximately twenty prisoners and thanks to the efforts of our staff, was safely resolved.”

Parc Prison confirmed that mutual was sought from HMPPS, and was received “in line with national protocol.”

A spokesperson explained that the second incident was unrelated and involved an altercation between three prisoners, who required hospital treatment.

“No injuries sustained were life-threatening. An air ambulance did attend the site but was not needed. No staff were injured in either incident.”

Even before the latest trouble, the situation at Parc Prison has drawn national attention, with two MPs calling on the UK government to intervene and take charge of the prison. The families of deceased inmates have also protested outside the jail, demanding justice and better conditions for those still incarcerated.

***There were protests outside the prison this week (Image BBC)***

Crime

Carmarthen man admits takeaway burglaries

Published

21 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Phillip Roberts stole cash from USA Chicken and returned the following day with intent to steal

A CARMARTHEN man has admitted a string of burglaries at the same takeaway business on consecutive days.

Phillip Roberts, 44, of Brewery Road, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three offences connected to USA Chicken on Blue Street.

The court heard that on June 4, Roberts entered the premises as a trespasser and stole a tip jar containing cash. He also admitted a second burglary at the same business on the same date, during which £50 cash was stolen.

A further offence took place on June 5, when Roberts entered USA Chicken as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Magistrates adjourned sentence for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The report will consider all sentencing options, including possible committal to the Crown Court.

Roberts was granted conditional bail. He must not enter USA Chicken, Blue Street, and must not contact Mustafa Baksi, either directly or indirectly.

He is due to return to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 1 for sentence.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to ‘choose wisely’ as pressures continue

Published

22 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has issued a fresh appeal to the public following the declaration of a critical incident on Friday (June 26), as exceptionally high demand continues to place pressure on crews across Wales.

In a social media post published today (Saturday, June 27), the Trust warned that hot weather is contributing to a rise in ambulance call-outs, including incidents involving heat-related illness, falls, breathing difficulties and existing medical conditions worsened by the heat.

The message comes less than 24 hours after the service declared a critical incident amid unprecedented demand, with ambulance resources stretched across Wales.

The Trust is urging people to call 999 only for serious or life-threatening emergencies, contact NHS 111 Wales for urgent health advice, and use local pharmacies for minor illnesses and ailments.

It said choosing the right service can help ambulance crews reach the sickest patients more quickly while pressures remain high.

Crime

Six arrested after immigration raids at Florentino’s restaurants

Published

23 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIX people have been arrested following Immigration Enforcement raids at Florentino’s Italian restaurants in Tenby and Carmarthen.

Officers visited the Tenby branch in St Julian’s Street on June 18, where two Romanian nationals were identified as allegedly having no right to work in the UK. Both were arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Tenby operation followed an earlier raid at Florentino’s in Carmarthen in February, where four workers — two Romanian nationals, a Bangladeshi national and a Mongolian national — were also arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Herald previously reported in March that the Carmarthen restaurant had been linked to a major HMRC case, after Claudio Cernat Ltd, formerly trading as Florentino’s on Jacksons Lane, was listed over a £278,000 deliberate tax underpayment and a further £186,000 penalty.

Immigration officials say inquiries are now under way to establish who may be liable for employing the individuals. Employers found to have breached illegal working rules can face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker.

One of the Tenby workers has already returned, while the other is in the process of returning. Of the Carmarthen workers, two have returned, one was placed on immigration bail and another was de-arrested with a warning.

Immigration Enforcement Lead for Wales, Richard Johnson, said: “I want to thank my officers who showed the highest levels of professionalism under challenging circumstances on these operations.

“Immigration Enforcement teams in Wales continue to work round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”

The Home Office says illegal working enforcement has increased significantly since July 2024, with raids and arrests rising across the UK and Wales.

No finding has yet been made against the restaurant operators in relation to the latest arrests.

Florentino’s has been approached for comment.