A former prison officer raises serious concerns over three inmate deaths at HMP Parc, highlighting alleged systemic issues and failings.
Bridgend: A former officer at HMP Parc has come forward with some pretty shocking claims. He says there have been serious failings linked to the deaths of three inmates. This prison, run by G4S, has seen a staggering 17 deaths in just 10 months, raising a lot of eyebrows.
The ex-officer, who goes by James, shared his concerns about the deaths of Michael ‘Mikey’ Horton, Warren Manners, and Shay Andrews. Mikey’s family is understandably heartbroken and outraged by what they see as neglect. G4S, on the other hand, has been tight-lipped, saying it’s not right to comment on individual cases but that they’re working hard to keep inmates safe.
James worked at Parc for several years and described the situation as dire. He mentioned “laughable” staff searches and a constant flow of drugs into the prison, often delivered by drones. It’s a chaotic environment, and he claims the staff is stretched too thin to handle the workload properly. Last year, other former officers also spoke out about the long shifts and lack of resources.
G4S fired James for alleged dishonesty, but they didn’t dispute his claims about the prison’s security issues. He insists he didn’t do anything wrong and that his dismissal was related to a misunderstanding about his absence from work.
Since February, the number of deaths at Parc has been alarming. G4S reported that some were drug-related, while others were self-inflicted or due to natural causes. The prison’s director was replaced after riots, and there have been arrests of staff for misconduct. It’s clear that something is seriously wrong.
James is particularly concerned about Mikey, who was just 19. His family thought prison would help him get clean, but instead, they received messages from strangers demanding money for drug debts. Mikey was terrified for his safety inside, and his family feels let down by the system.
When Mikey was found hanged, James was devastated. He claims Mikey was supposed to be monitored closely for self-harm, but that didn’t happen. This isn’t the first time there have been questions about the prison’s monitoring practices, as another inmate, Justin Lewis, also died under similar circumstances.
Warren Manners and Shay Andrews also faced tragic ends. Warren had been under constant watch but was taken off it just before his death. James believes this was a huge mistake. Shay, who was vulnerable, was moved to a part of the prison known for drug issues, and he died shortly after.
James says the staffing situation has worsened over the past year and a half, leading to dangerous conditions. He described nights where just one officer was responsible for hundreds of inmates, which is just plain unsafe. G4S claims they follow standard staffing ratios, but James argues that it’s not enough.
Inmates have even felt emboldened to act out, using phones to film themselves in the yard. The situation has become so bad that assaults on staff have increased significantly. Many officers are leaving because they don’t feel safe or supported.
James believes the issues at Parc stem from a lack of resources and support for both staff and inmates. He’s worried that without serious changes, more tragedies will occur. G4S has acknowledged the problems and is working on improving security, but many are skeptical about their commitment to real change.
