Welsh Affairs Committee Calls for Pause on HMP Parc Expansion
Plans to expand HMP Parc, one of the most troubled prisons in England and Wales, should be paused until serious issues regarding staff and inmate safety are resolved, MPs have advised.
In 2024, HMP Parc in Bridgend recorded seventeen deaths among inmates, the highest number in any prison across England and Wales that year. These deaths occurred amid ongoing problems with drug use, self-harm, violence, and staff shortages. Additionally, three more men died at the facility during the first nine months of 2025.
The Welsh affairs committee recognized the necessity for increased prison capacity for adult men but concluded that Parc is "not the right place to expand the prison population."
Despite these challenges, pre-application approval was granted in September 2024 to add 345 inmates and 160 staff members to the category B facility. This decision followed the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) warning that England and Wales would run out of prison places within two months without urgent measures. Currently, Parc, operated by a private firm, accommodates 1,670 prisoners and employs 676 staff.
The committee chair, Ruth Jones, highlighted the gravity of the situation:
"Every preventable death is a tragedy. It is vital that improving the safety and wellbeing of men at the prison is at the forefront of any decisions."
"While some improvements have been made, expanding the prison now would be a distraction that could put that progress – and the safety of prisoners and staff – at risk."
Inspection Reports Reveal Deteriorating Conditions
An unannounced inspection in January 2025 delivered a highly critical report, noting deterioration across all key measures. Inspectors found high levels of drug abuse, self-harm, and violence. They also observed that prisoners could be confined to their cells for up to 21 hours at a time. Additional concerns included poor quality food, staff shortages, and under-resourced mental health and substance misuse services.
A subsequent visit by the chief inspector of prisons in January 2026 found insufficient progress but identified what the Welsh affairs committee described as "green shoots" of improvement.
In response, Parc prison issued a statement:
"Parc’s latest inspection report highlights that progress has been made in many areas, particularly in disrupting the supply of drugs.
"This is significant and is helping to drive wider improvements throughout the prison, especially in reducing self-harm and violence."
Government Response and Broader Context
The Ministry of Justice stated:
"We’re taking decisive action to address the prison crisis inherited by this government – building 14,000 extra prison places by 2031 and reforming sentencing to ensure we can always lock up dangerous criminals."
The current prison population in England and Wales stands at 87,751, nearing an all-time high. Scotland recently recorded its own peak with 8,452 inmates this month. The Prison Reform Trust attributes these increases to longer sentences and a higher number of prisoners being recalled after release.
Incarceration rates and sentence lengths in Wales exceed those in the rest of western Europe, a disparity linked to differences between the English and Welsh criminal justice systems.
Welsh Labour, which governs Cardiff Bay, supports full devolution of policing and criminal justice powers from Westminster, following recommendations from three independent commissions. Similarly, Plaid Cymru, which polls indicate may succeed Labour after the May elections, advocates for full transfer of justice, police, and prison services.
