Serious problems continue at HMP Parc, HM Inspectorate of Prisons has warned. Inspectors found some improvements at the G4S-run prison, but not enough to ease their concerns about its state.
The inspectorate published a highly critical report on Parc in January 2025. In that year, inspectors identified 11 issues of major concern.
After a return visit, they judged that the prison had made significant improvements in only one area. They found some progress in three areas and ‘insufficient progress’ in the remaining seven.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said the daily regime remained under significant restrictions. Staff shortages and vetting delays largely explained this, he said. As a result, prisoners still spent far too much time in their cells instead of in purposeful activity.
Mr Taylor said Parc had made “good progress” in tackling drug use. However, he added that drugs remained too widely available.
There were 17 deaths at Parc in 2024, more than at any other prison.
Violence at the prison rose by 25 per cent in 2025. Inspectors noted, though, that levels had started to fall from September onwards. They found attendance at education poor. They also judged offender management and public protection unacceptable.
A spokesperson for HMP Parc responded to the findings. “We are encouraged that this report highlights progress at the prison in many areas, particularly in our work to disrupt the supply of drugs,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said this work would drive wider improvements across the prison, especially in reducing self-harm and violence. Staffing levels were still rising, the spokesperson added. That would let the prison widen access to education, training, employment and rehabilitation activities.
The spokesperson also said the prison now had resources in place to manage a larger volume of public protection monitoring work.
HMP Parc is a category C prison for men in Wales.
