Chief Inspector of Prisons sees green shoots at troubled Parc

 There have been some “green shoots” of improvement seen at troubled Parc prison, according to Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor.

He told the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee that the new Director at the jail has “a little bit more of a grip”.

In April, Mr Taylor had published a report saying the situation at Parc was “enormously disappointing”. This, along with reports of a high number of deaths in custody at the facility, and outbreaks of disturbances, led the Committee to reopen an enquiry that had been halted by the General Election.

The Chief Inspector’s April report had said Parc, in south Wales, was failing to tackle an “alarming” quantity of drugs that had led to a “spate” of deaths, but he told MPs that a new boss had provided “a little bit more grip” although there was still “a long way to go”.

The April report, which followed an unannounced inspection of Parc in January, said drugs were “pouring into the prison”, with deliveries often by drone. Seventeen inmates are known to have died at Parc in 2024, more than any other UK prison. Of the 17 deaths, G4S, which runs the prison, confirmed that eight inmates had died from natural causes, and five deaths were believed to be drugs-related. Drugs were found on 900 occasions in 2024, and G4S said it had invested significant resources to tackle drugs in the prison, including the provision of more patrol dogs and detection equipment.

Parc had previously been judged as one of the most successful prisons, and Mr Taylor had described the January inspection as “enormously disappointing”.

Addressing the Welsh Affairs Committee at Westminster, Mr Taylor said the recent deaths had “an absolute catastrophic effect” on “the pride and that real sense of community” of both staff and inmates. However, he said, although the April report was very critical, there “were some positives there”.

He told MPs: “There was a little bit more grip by a new director who had been appointed. The number of deaths had diminished since that shocking high that there had been earlier last year.

“The regime wasn’t nearly good enough, but there were some reasonably credible plans to get prisoners out and about and doing some of the things that in the past we commented on reasonably positively.

“There was a sense amongst the leadership team and also amongst officers, that morale was beginning to improve. So there were some green shoots.”

However he warned: “I wouldn’t want to give you a false assurance on that. “We will be back at Parc within the year, and we’ll want to see that those improvements that we’ve begun to see have been sustained – but there is a long way to go.”

Following the April report, G4S had said “significant improvements” were being made.

my view:

If you can remember, I raised this issue some time ago—and sadly, it’s still as urgent and alarming as ever. Prisoners being locked down for 23 hours a day due to severe staff shortages is nothing short of a crisis. This isn’t just about inconvenience or discomfort; it’s about basic human rights and the safety of everyone involved—both inmates and staff. When prisoners are confined to their cells for nearly the entire day, it creates a powder keg of tension and frustration. The government needs to take a firm stance and refuse HMP Parc permission to build any new wings until there are enough trained, capable staff to keep all the existing wings properly open and running on green status.

What’s happening now is a ticking time bomb that’s only going to make things worse. Prolonged lockdowns and understaffing don’t just breed resentment—they fuel violence, abuse, drug use, and even the smuggling of drones, which has become a horrifying new challenge. When prisoners have no meaningful activity or supervision, the atmosphere becomes toxic, and criminal networks inside the prison grow stronger, unchecked. This isn’t just speculation—it’s a clear and present danger that everyone in charge seems to be ignoring.

HMP Parc needs to get itself in gear, and fast. Before they even think about expanding or adding new wings, they must prove they can manage what they already have responsibly and safely. Staff shortages are unacceptable in an institution where control and security are paramount. The government and prison management owe it to the public, the staff, and the prisoners themselves to fix these problems now—before it spirals further out of control. Expansion without stability is a recipe for disaster, and no one will benefit from that except those who profit from chaos.