Parc deaths: some progress but much more to be done, Committee chair says

• Watch: Evidence session
• Welsh Affairs Committee

Seventeen inmates have lost their lives at Parc, in Bridgend, so far this year. Several prison staff have been arrested on suspicion of assault and misconduct in a public office.

During the session, MPs heard from Lord Timpson, the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Re-offending, as well as senior officials from both G4S, who run the prison, and His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service Wales.

Key points raised during the session included:

• The Government has no plans to bring Parc back into public ownership
• Minister Timpson called for drug use in prisons to be treated as a public health issue
• Five of the 17 deaths this year were related to drugs, while eight were related to natural causes
• Intercepting contraband entering the prison is a challenge. Items such as drugs and mobile phones can be smuggled in through a variety of means, including in children's nappies when they visit family inside.

Chair's comment

Responding to the session Ruth Jones, Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, said: “Seventeen inmate deaths in one year is not only tragic; it also creates real concern around how HMP Parc is run and the safety of the men there.

“It would appear that significant progress has been made, with no non-natural deaths occurring since June this year. I thank G4S, HMPPS Wales and the Ministry of Justice for their detailed engagement with us, and their clear desire to get a grip on this problem.

“It was encouraging to hear that Parc officials are working to improve security and that inmates are reporting that they feel safer inside. The Minister’s announcement of a trial of vape models that are better protected against drug use is a promising step, and I expect my Committee to be kept informed of the pilot’s results.

“But there is much more still to be done. New and dangerous drugs like nitazenes are a very serious problem and not just at Parc; frontline staff must be better trained to deal with these new threats proactively.

“During our visit to Parc last month, Members were shocked to see tiny mobile phones being smuggled into the prison, some being specifically advertised as able to evade prison security. The Government should look at this urgently. Is a change in the law needed?

“Meanwhile, if the Government is to expand Parc, as was suggested today, lingering issues around staffing and healthcare must be addressed. My Committee has asked for regular updates on this work. If no progress is shown, we will return to these issues, as we will when we begin our upcoming inquiry on offender management in Wales.”

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: House of Commons