Prison inquiry to reopen due to concerns, MP says

13 people have died at Parc Prison in Bridgend this year

Issues at a Welsh prison are "very concerning", says an MP who has pledged to reopen an inquiry into jails across the nation.

Labour MP Ruth Jones, who chairs the parliamentary Welsh affairs committee, said HMP Parc in Bridgend was a "big concern" after 13 inmates died at the prison this year.

Four members of staff at Parc were arrested on suspicion of assault and misconduct last month, but South Wales Police have not said what the arrests relate to.

HMP Parc said since "a number of tragic deaths earlier this year" it has done "a huge amount of work to make positive changes in the prison".

The Welsh affairs committee had previously been told staff at Parc had been taking illegal substances into the prison, with one prisoner claiming "drugs are everywhere, from cannabis to heroin".

Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, said important inquiries into prisons in Wales "fell through" due to the general election.

She said: "The prison inquiry was ongoing and there was a date in the diary to go and see HMP Berwyn in north Wales - that all fell because the election was called so suddenly.

"We would like to pick it up again, because obviously we're comparing the four prisons, but in particular I believe there have been another two deaths in HMP Parc which is very concerning."

HMP Parc said: "Earlier this year Parc experienced a number of tragic deaths and our thoughts remain with the loved ones of those who died. Since then we have done a huge amount of work to make positive changes in the prison.

"We would welcome the opportunity to show Ruth Jones MP and other stakeholders the good work our staff are doing here and will be contacting her office to extend that invitation."