Inside the notorious UK prison where 10 inmates have died in just three months

A notorious prison has been thrown into further turmoil after a 20-man brawl broke out, resulting in three inmates being rushed to hospital following the riot.

An air ambulance was initially dispatched to the drug-ridden prison but was later called off when it was determined that the injured men were not in “life-threatening” conditions.

This is just the latest in a series of disturbing incidents at HMP Parc in Bridgend, Wales, where there have been 10 deaths in three months.

This jail is a privately-run category B prison for men and young offenders with the capacity to house up to 1,700 inmates. Operated by security company G4S, HMP Parc opened its doors in South Wales in 1997, but problems arose from the get-go – with four suicides within the first 18 months.

Anti-English sentiment was also reported, with racist graffiti being “unchallenged” in cells, according to a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in 1999. The then prison director Bob Dixon stated: “What we have are a large number of particularly young offenders who, unfortunately, come from an area where racism, almost tribalism, is endemic”, reports the Daily Star.

Despite these initial issues, the prison bosses arguably face their most challenging time today, as Warren Manners, 38, recently became the 10th inmate to die at the facility since February 27.

A pair of inmates tragically lost their lives within minutes of each other on May 7 in separate incidents; Michael Horton, 19, and convicted murderer, David Maggs, 73.

The prison has been grappling with a series of drug-related deaths, with at least four believed to be linked to substance abuse. Last month, grieving families gathered outside the prison waving banners that demanded action, with messages like “stop the drugs” and “Dogs, drones in every yard to stop the drugs”.

One devastated man shared his sorrow with the BBC, mourning his best friend Cameron Lee Anthony who died after consuming drugs. He said: “[I’m] upset, hurt. I’ve lost my best friend. He said the wings were mayhem. Flooded with drugs.”

In a related incident last month, a 36-year-old prison staff member was nabbed for allegedly dealing drugs inside HMP Parc, following a coordinated sting operation with the police.

A spokesperson from the jail emphasised the institution’s commitment to integrity, stating: “We expect the highest standards of conduct from our employees, and if we suspect any form of wrongdoing, we will take swift action.”

However, the challenges extend beyond drug issues. Reports have surfaced about rampant misconduct, including a prisoner who reportedly exchanged sexual favors for drugs in the showers.

An ex-employee also revealed to WalesOnline that some officers were bribed to smuggle contraband into the facility. Amidst these crises, a concerning comment from a guard highlighted the severity of the situation: “We’ve lost control here. We don’t control the prison – you f***ers do.”

An autopsy on four inmates who died inside the prison revealed they had consumed a lethal substance, 500 times more potent than heroin. The officer leading the investigation, Detective Steve Jones of South Wales Police confirmed that “nitazene-based substances” were found in their systems.

South West Police disclosed that another synthetic narcotic known as spice, often referred to as the “zombie drug”, was involved in two out of the four deaths.

In a direct appeal to inmates engaging in drug-related activities, Adrian Usher, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, made his stance clear in March stating: “We urge all prisoners who are in possession of spice to dispose of it immediately. This is a dangerous drug and we do not want to see any more unnecessary deaths occur.”

Spice, categorised under Class B drugs, is designed to emulate the effects of cannabis, can result in users remaining clamped in unnatural positions for hours. The police have also indicated that it can induce violent behaviours or sometimes leave individuals appearing comatose.

This recent wave of fatalities has spurred demands for G4S to forfeit its £400million contract. Labour MPs Beth Winter and Chris Elmore have voiced their opinion that the government should take control.

Acknowledging the recent tragedies, a spokesperson from HMP Parc expressed: “We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of those who have died recently at Parc.”

“As with all deaths in custody, these are being investigated by the prisons and probation ombudsman. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and use a range of tactics to tackle the ingress of drugs and reduce demand.”

Ian Watkins, the disgraced former singer of Lostprophets, is currently serving a hefty 29-year sentence for child sex offences. During his time on remand, he was housed in HMP Parc. This prison stands as one of the largest category B facilities, primarily housing convicted and suspected sex offenders awaiting their trials.

Ex-Welsh international footballer Mark Aizlewood also did time here after being convicted in a scam involving football apprenticeships. However, instead of succumbing to despair, Mark, who now manages Carmarthen Town, initiated fitness programmes within the prison and offered support to fellow inmates battling suicidal thoughts.

In an interview with WalesOnline, he shared insights into his prison activities, focusing on teaching about diet, nutrition, and maintaining physical health.

He emphasized the therapeutic power of exercise and shared his personal battle with alcoholism, stating: “I was an alcoholic, I know how it feels. I haven’t had a drink since 2005. It’s easy for me to talk about that but some people are in the middle of their crisis.”

Mark further added, “I did a course inside and became a Samaritans trained listener in jail. Anyone who is feeling suicidal could call and you would go to their cell and you would talk through the problems with them. It was another element of what I did to make my time worthwhile.”

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, emailjo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.