Director steps down at prison where 10 inmates died

Ten inmates at the prison have died since 27 February

The director of a prison where 10 inmates have died in the last three months has stepped down.

Heather Whitehead took over the running of the HMP Parc in Bridgend in August 2023.

Her departure with immediate effect was "not in response to one single incident”, security firm G4S, which runs the private prison said.

Ten inmates have died at the prison since 27 February and three prisoners were also taken to hospital following disorder at the prison on Friday.

Will Styles, who has been with G4S for a year running HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, has been appointed as the new director.

"Will has over 30 years’ experience in the prison service having led a number of large, complex prisons, both public and private and served four years as a prison group director for the long term and high security estate," a spokesperson for HMP Parc said in a statement.

At least four of the deaths are believed to be drug-related, while one prison staff member has been arrested in connection with drug dealing there.

South Wales Police said in March that a Nitazene - a synthetic opioid drug - had been identified in connection with all four deaths.

The force said spice, another synthetic drug, had been identified in two of the four deaths.

Will Styles has been appointed as the new director of HMP Parc

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 last month, saying they wanted answers from authorities following claims of drug misuse within the jail.

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.