By Jessica Pandian
In the five years to between 2019 – 2024, Ministry of Justice data shows 100 people died in prisons in Wales. Alarmingly, more than half of all the deaths occurred in HMP Parc.
The crisis at the prison intensified in 2024 when 17 people died – more than in any other prison in England and Wales – with at least five of the deaths believed to be drug-related.
Following the spate of deaths and leaked messages showing HMP Parc prison staff mocking use of force and self-harm incidents, HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) conducted an unannounced inspection of the prison earlier this year. We contextualise the findings of the inspection with our submission to the Justice Select Committee on tackling drugs in prison and to the Welsh Affairs Committee in which we focussed on drug-related deaths at HMP Parc.
Availability of drugs
The report highlights that a staggering 57% of prisoners said it was easy to obtain illicit drugs, with 34% of prisoners on A and B wings stating they had developed a drug or alcohol problem since they had arrived at Parc. Relatedly, the report notes the high availability of drugs, with 900 drug finds in the previous year.
In order to reduce the supply of drugs, the report argues for the replacement of windows and enhanced gate security are necessary to curb drone deliveries. Yet INQUEST has repeatedly cautioned that an emphasis on drones risks obscuring that the most common routes remain via prison staff and new prisoners.
Time out of cell
In both of our submissions, we made clear that limited time out of cells and the lack of purposeful activity – and imprisonment more broadly – are strong drivers of drug consumption.
At HMP Parc, more prisoners than at other prisons reported spending less than two hours out of their cells on Saturdays and Sundays (45% compared to 31%).
Even more shockingly, the fifth of prisoners who were unemployed were unlocked for only one and a half hours per day, with some additional time to eat meals.
Actions taken to address drug-related issues
At HMP Parc, prisoners with drug dependency (or idk what the correct terminology is) are sometimes placed on an independent substance-free living unit. Yet in line with our submissions, the prison inspection concludes that the independent substance-free living unit at the prison did not offer ‘meaningful recovery opportunities’ for prisoners. Further, it determines that substance misuse services were underresourced and did not meet the needs of the prison population.
The report also discusses the heightened security measures implemented by the prison to undertake drug detection, including the development of hand-held substance detectors by Bath University and the use of a mobile device to detect concealed items on prisoners, staff and visitors.
Whilst HMIP recognises these initiatives in a positive light, we know that mandatory drug testing (see paragraphs 45 – 49 of our joint submission to the Justice Select Committee) can produce a shift to using more harmful drugs that are non-detectable, such as synthetic cannabinoids and heroin. In recognition of the harm mandatory drug testing creates, we made a recommendation to the Welsh Affairs Committee that it be abolished.
On the other hand, with regards to support and treatment for prisoners with drug dependencies, we’re pleased to see that the inspection report notes the prison had:
These steps strongly align with the recommendations INQUEST made to both the Welsh Affairs Committee on implementing harm reduction initiatives within prison, which have real potential to effect positive changes in the lives of drug-dependent people in prison.
Harm reduction can be defined as a strategy that aims to minimise the negative effects of drug use through equipping people who use drugs with specialist drug, health and social services. Factors impeding the success of harm reduction, as stated in the inspection report, relate to the part-time prescriber being unable to see patients regularly or undertake an expected review at 13 weeks; the lack of dedicated substance misuse nurses; and the absence of care plans, causing HM Inspectorate of Prisons ‘concerns about the oversight of patients’.
Radical changes needed
To prevent more deaths at HMP Parc and other prisons across Wales, we believe radical changes are necessary. The Government needs to take a long, hard look at the root causes of drug dependency in prisons. Rather than focusing solely on punitive measures, we need to divest from prisons to community-based drug and alcohol services that address drug dependency.
In the prison itself, we need stronger oversight of harm reduction programs to ensure that prisoners are supported at every stage—when they enter, while they are imprisoned, and when they are released. This should include increased access to professional care, more time out of cells, and better support systems to help people recover from drug dependency.
The Radical Changes Needed To End Deaths At Hmp Parc
By Jessica Pandian
In the five years to between 2019 – 2024, Ministry of Justice data shows 100 people died in prisons in Wales. Alarmingly, more than half of all the deaths occurred in HMP Parc.
The crisis at the prison intensified in 2024 when 17 people died – more than in any other prison in England and Wales – with at least five of the deaths believed to be drug-related.
Following the spate of deaths and leaked messages showing HMP Parc prison staff mocking use of force and self-harm incidents, HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) conducted an unannounced inspection of the prison earlier this year. We contextualise the findings of the inspection with our submission to the Justice Select Committee on tackling drugs in prison and to the Welsh Affairs Committee in which we focussed on drug-related deaths at HMP Parc.
Availability of drugs
The report highlights that a staggering 57% of prisoners said it was easy to obtain illicit drugs, with 34% of prisoners on A and B wings stating they had developed a drug or alcohol problem since they had arrived at Parc. Relatedly, the report notes the high availability of drugs, with 900 drug finds in the previous year.
In order to reduce the supply of drugs, the report argues for the replacement of windows and enhanced gate security are necessary to curb drone deliveries. Yet INQUEST has repeatedly cautioned that an emphasis on drones risks obscuring that the most common routes remain via prison staff and new prisoners.
Time out of cell
In both of our submissions, we made clear that limited time out of cells and the lack of purposeful activity – and imprisonment more broadly – are strong drivers of drug consumption.
At HMP Parc, more prisoners than at other prisons reported spending less than two hours out of their cells on Saturdays and Sundays (45% compared to 31%).
Even more shockingly, the fifth of prisoners who were unemployed were unlocked for only one and a half hours per day, with some additional time to eat meals.
Actions taken to address drug-related issues
At HMP Parc, prisoners with drug dependency (or idk what the correct terminology is) are sometimes placed on an independent substance-free living unit. Yet in line with our submissions, the prison inspection concludes that the independent substance-free living unit at the prison did not offer ‘meaningful recovery opportunities’ for prisoners. Further, it determines that substance misuse services were underresourced and did not meet the needs of the prison population.
The report also discusses the heightened security measures implemented by the prison to undertake drug detection, including the development of hand-held substance detectors by Bath University and the use of a mobile device to detect concealed items on prisoners, staff and visitors.
Whilst HMIP recognises these initiatives in a positive light, we know that mandatory drug testing (see paragraphs 45 – 49 of our joint submission to the Justice Select Committee) can produce a shift to using more harmful drugs that are non-detectable, such as synthetic cannabinoids and heroin. In recognition of the harm mandatory drug testing creates, we made a recommendation to the Welsh Affairs Committee that it be abolished.
On the other hand, with regards to support and treatment for prisoners with drug dependencies, we’re pleased to see that the inspection report notes the prison had:
commenced a substance misuse observation record process to identify and support patients under the influence of substances;
prescribed select patients with opiate substitution therapy;
provided new arrivals with harm minimisation advice and advise on how to access the psychosocial service; and
provided harm minimisation advice before release, as well as a supply of naloxone and community referrals.
These steps strongly align with the recommendations INQUEST made to both the Welsh Affairs Committee on implementing harm reduction initiatives within prison, which have real potential to effect positive changes in the lives of drug-dependent people in prison.
Harm reduction can be defined as a strategy that aims to minimise the negative effects of drug use through equipping people who use drugs with specialist drug, health and social services. Factors impeding the success of harm reduction, as stated in the inspection report, relate to the part-time prescriber being unable to see patients regularly or undertake an expected review at 13 weeks; the lack of dedicated substance misuse nurses; and the absence of care plans, causing HM Inspectorate of Prisons ‘concerns about the oversight of patients’.
Radical changes needed
To prevent more deaths at HMP Parc and other prisons across Wales, we believe radical changes are necessary. The Government needs to take a long, hard look at the root causes of drug dependency in prisons. Rather than focusing solely on punitive measures, we need to divest from prisons to community-based drug and alcohol services that address drug dependency.
In the prison itself, we need stronger oversight of harm reduction programs to ensure that prisoners are supported at every stage—when they enter, while they are imprisoned, and when they are released. This should include increased access to professional care, more time out of cells, and better support systems to help people recover from drug dependency.
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