Seventeen deaths, drugs crisis and violence still unresolved at Bridgend jail
PLANS to expand HMP Parc must be put on hold immediately, MPs have warned, amid ongoing concerns about deaths, drugs, violence and the safety of inmates and staff.
A new report from the Welsh Affairs Committee says the proposed expansion of the Bridgend prison would be a dangerous distraction, risking progress made after a series of serious failings.
The intervention follows mounting scrutiny of the prison, where seventeen men died in 2024, prompting widespread concern over conditions inside the facility.
Serious concerns remain
Despite some signs of improvement, MPs say HMP Parc continues to face deep-rooted problems, including high levels of violence, self-harm and drug misuse.
Inspectors previously found prisoners were spending up to 21 hours a day locked in their cells, while mental health and substance misuse services were described as under-resourced.
Although recent inspections noted some progress—particularly in disrupting drug supply—MPs concluded that insufficient improvement has been made in key areas, including prisoner safety and rehabilitation.
Expansion plans under fire
The Ministry of Justice wants to add 345 extra inmates and around 160 staff to the prison as part of a wider UK strategy to increase capacity.
But the committee said HMP Parc is not currently suitable for expansion, warning it could undermine fragile improvements and place further strain on an already pressured system.
MPs acknowledged the need for more prison places but stressed that Parc should not be expanded until safety issues are fully addressed.
Drugs and overcrowding highlighted
The report raises ongoing concerns about the availability of drugs inside the prison, describing the problem as “alarming”.
Recent figures show around 40% of inmates are held in crowded conditions, while drug use remains widespread despite efforts to clamp down on supply.
Campaigners say too many vulnerable prisoners are being held in poor conditions, increasing the risk of violence, despair and self-harm.
Herald investigation focus
The findings echo concerns previously raised by this newspaper following a series of deaths at the prison.
The Herald has reported extensively on the growing crisis at Parc, including the impact of powerful synthetic drugs, the use of drones to smuggle contraband, and ongoing concerns about prisoner safety and welfare.
MPs’ conclusions now reinforce those concerns, warning that while progress has been made, serious risks remain inside the prison.
Calls for urgent rethink
The committee has now formally called on the UK Government to pause the expansion plans and reconsider whether they can be delivered safely.
Responding to the report, the Ministry of Justice said it was taking “decisive action” to address pressures in the prison system, including plans to create 14,000 additional prison places across England and Wales.
HMP Parc said recent inspection findings showed progress in tackling drug supply, which it said was helping to reduce violence and self-harm.
HMP Parc is a category B prison in Bridgend, operated by G4S, and houses around 1,700 to 1,800 inmates.
It has been under intense scrutiny since 2024 following a series of deaths linked to drugs, suicide and natural causes, alongside ongoing concerns about safety and conditions.
