A SERIES of leaked messages obtained by The Herald have revealed a toxic culture among some staff at HMP Parc, with officers joking about violence, mocking self-harm, and admitting to skipping duties — as multiple investigations into serious misconduct continue at the privately-run Bridgend prison.
The leaked text and social media messages, exchanged between officers and ex-colleagues, include disturbing references to physical assaults on inmates, deliberate provocation of prisoners, and a callous disregard for vulnerable individuals.
In one message, an officer boasts: “I punched f*** into him after he bit me… he threw his food tray in Leah’s face so I dropped him.”
Other exchanges appear to show staff encouraging each other to push inmates into confrontation. One officer writes: “Let’s push him to go tomorrow so we can drop him,” followed by: “Big time, f*** him off.”
In another, officers make light of suicide risks. One message reads: “He’ll tie a bag around his neck,” with a response: “Too much paperwork.” Another adds: “Don’t have to do paperwork if you pretend not to see it.”
The language throughout is crude, dehumanising, and laced with jokes about violence. In one thread, staff describe an inmate with serious mental health issues as “crackhead Jesus,” and another talks about a prisoner who had slit his wrists, calling him a “daft c***” and suggesting he should be “in a lonnie bin.”
The leaks come as it is confirmed that a total of ten officers at HMP Parc have now been arrested since September 2024 as part of a major police swoop on the prison.
In a statement to The Herald, South Wales Police confirmed:
“South Wales Police arrested four people on Friday September 20, 2024, on suspicion of assault and misconduct in public office following reports of a series of incidents at HMP Parc.
All four have been released without charge following their arrests in September.”
“An additional arrest phase took place in January 2025.
Those arrested during the second phase are a 35-year-old man from Bridgend; a 40-year-old man from Swansea; a 38-year-old man from Barry; a 50-year-old man from Taibach; and a 23-year-old woman from Cardiff — all of whom have been bailed for further enquiries until the end of April 2025.
A 36-year-old man from Llanelli has been released under investigation.”
Detective Chief Inspector Dean Taylor said: “The investigation remains ongoing, and officers are continuing to work closely with G4S.”
G4S, which runs HMP Parc, issued the following statement: “We are aware a decision has been made not to proceed further with a number of initial cases. It is not appropriate for us to comment on other cases which are ongoing, but we will continue to support police colleagues.”
This week, The Herald also revealed police are separately investigating the alleged sexual assault of a young inmate on X1 Wing, who was reportedly coerced and scalded. Advocacy groups have described the incident as a “catastrophic failure” of the prison’s safeguarding procedures.
HMP Parc has also recorded at least eight inmate deaths in the past 12 months, with several suspected to be linked to drugs or suicide. Campaigners say the leaked messages now confirm the culture of neglect and violence that whistleblowers have warned about for years.
“This is more than misconduct — it’s cruelty, covered up and normalised,” said a campaigner for prisoner rights. “The public deserves answers, and the victims deserve justice.”
The Ministry of Justice’s anti-corruption unit is supporting the ongoing police investigation.
Parc, the largest prison in Wales, is one of the few in the UK operated by a private firm. It has faced growing calls for an independent inquiry into its operation, following riots, staffing failures, and the replacement of its director last year.
