AN INMATE at HMP Parc in Bridgend has died over the weekend, the prison has confirmed. The elderly man, identified as 85-year-old Malcolm James, passed away on Saturday (Oct 5).
It is understood that Mr James had been receiving end-of-life care at the prison. His death will now be subject to an investigation, as per the usual protocol for deaths in custody.
A spokeswoman for HMP Parc stated: “Mr Malcolm James, aged 85, passed away on Saturday, October 5th. 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.”
Mr James’s passing marks the 15th confirmed death at the troubled Welsh prison since late February. This latest incident comes amidst ongoing scrutiny over the management of HMP Parc, which is run by the private security firm G4S. The prison has faced controversy in recent years, including incidents of rioting, staff arrests, and allegations of rampant drug-dealing and corruption. Some of the deaths at the facility have been linked to drugs or self-harm.
Ongoing issues at Parc have prompted significant concern. Last month, four members of the prison’s staff were arrested on suspicion of assault and misconduct in a public office. In response to the growing crisis, the Labour MP Ruth Jones, the chairwoman-elect of the UK Parliament’s Welsh Affairs Committee, described the situation at Parc as “very concerning.” She pledged that the committee would re-open its inquiry into the state of Welsh prisons.
