Staff arrests at jail minister said was 'stable'

Parc Prison is the second largest in Wales, after Berwyn in Wrexham

Four officers at a prison where 13 inmates have died this year have been arrested.

South Wales Police detained the four on Friday on suspicion of assault and misconduct in public office, following reports of a series of incidents.

Security company G4S, which runs HMP Parc in Bridgend, confirmed those arrested are all prison custody officers.

Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt told the Senedd on Wednesday that "considerable progress" had been made at Parc.

"We received concerns about the conduct of staff at HMP Parc on Wednesday 18 September," said Det Ch Insp Dean Taylor.

"Officers are at the early stages of the investigation and are working closely with G4S while inquiries are ongoing."

The four arrested are a woman, 23, from Bridgend, a man, 45, from Pontycymer, Bridgend county, a 25-year-old man from Merthyr Tydful and a 35-year-old man from Llanelli.

Thirteen inmates have died at Parc since the start of 2024 - more than at any other prison - and three prisoners were also taken to hospital following disorder at the prison in June.

At least four of the deaths are believed to be drug-related.

G4S has previously said it has a "zero-tolerance policy towards drugs".

Families of inmates who died while in a prison protested outside the facility in May saying they wanted answers from authorities following claims of drug misuse within the jail.

Ms Hutt told the Welsh Parliament she had received reassurances from Ian Barrow, who oversees the management of Welsh prisons, that progress had been made at Parc since the appointment of a new boss in June.

"It's now, much more stable," she said.

She also said she would visit Parc on 30 September with the UK government’s prisons minister Lord Timpson.

HMP Parc is one of the UK's largest category B prisons, holding convicted male adult and young offenders, as well as convicted sex offenders or those awaiting trial for sex offences.

HMP Parc said: "The vast majority of our staff are hardworking and honest. We are absolutely committed to rooting out any wrongdoing.

"We take these allegations very seriously and are fully supporting the police with their investigation."