HMP Parc Expansion Approved – But at What Cost?

 

HMP Parc Expansion Approved – But at What Cost?

So the expansion plans for HMP Parc have been approved… but do you realise something? Before anyone celebrates adding hundreds more prisoners, the government needs to wake up and smell the coffee. This is a prison that, only two years ago, recorded a shocking number of deaths. Families and campaigners raised concerns at the time, and many of those concerns still haven’t gone away.

Let’s be honest: HMP Parc already faces major challenges, and expanding it by around 345 additional prisoners raises some very serious questions about priorities, safety, staffing and basic duty of care.

A Prison Already Under Pressure

People who follow what happens at Parc will know that the prison has been struggling with a massive drug problem. Reports over recent years have consistently highlighted issues with illegal substances entering the jail, including accusations that drone drops are a regular occurrence. If existing drug prevention strategies aren’t working, how can anyone justify adding even more prisoners into the mix?

On top of that, there have been ongoing concerns about staffing standards, including disciplinary actions and suspensions. Some families and prisoners have reported worrying behaviour by certain staff—claims that should have triggered stronger oversight and improved training long before any expansion was considered.

Lockdowns and Staff Shortages

Anyone with a loved one in Parc knows how often the prison goes into lockdown. Why? Because it’s short-staffed. Not just occasionally short-staffed, but chronically struggling to maintain basic daily operations.

Now we’re supposed to believe that adding hundreds more people into this already-stretched environment will somehow improve things? It doesn’t add up.

The plan mentions hiring 160 additional staff, but here’s the obvious question:
Why not hire them first and demonstrate that the prison can run safely and effectively before approving an expansion?

Recruitment shouldn’t be a footnote. It should be the foundation.

Profit vs Rehabilitation

The uncomfortable truth is that expansions like this often look more like business decisions than social ones. Parc is a privately run prison, and private prisons rely on occupancy for revenue. But prisons are not hotels. They are environments where rehabilitation, safety, and the welfare of human beings should come before profit margins.

If rehabilitation is supposed to be the priority, then why expand a prison that is already struggling to meet basic standards?

What About the Rest of the Prison System?

Another point that seems to be ignored: if the prison population really is overwhelming the system, why not redistribute prisoners across England and Wales, easing pressure on multiple sites rather than expanding a single one that is already stretched thin?

This approach could help stabilise the broader system instead of loading even more weight onto one of the most troubled prisons in the UK.

The Bottom Line

Before anyone builds new wings or increases capacity, there should be a simple checklist:

• Is the current prison safe?

• Is it adequately staffed?

• Are drugs under control?

• Are staff properly trained and supported?

• Are prisoners receiving meaningful rehabilitation?

Right now, it’s difficult for many people—families, campaigners, and even current staff—to say “yes” to those questions.

If the government truly cares about rehabilitation, safety, and reducing reoffending, then expansion shouldn’t even be on the table until the existing issues at HMP Parc are fixed.

Because this should not be about money.
It should be about people.
And it should be about getting things right before making them bigger.