Tiny meals igniting unrest in a Welsh prison

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Inmates at Parc prison have pointed to inadequate meals as a key factor behind outbreaks of violence, according to a recent inspection report. The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, revealed serious issues at the Bridgend facility, including a troubling influx of drugs that contributed to a series of inmate deaths. Last year, Parc recorded 17 fatalities, the highest in the UK, with causes ranging from drug-related incidents to self-inflicted harm and natural causes.

The report criticized G4S, the private company managing Parc, for being slow to address prisoners’ complaints about poor food quality and insufficient portions. Taylor noted that prisoners cited “not having enough to eat” as a major cause of violence within the prison. Despite repeated concerns raised by families about food shortages, G4S consistently denied these claims, even after a riot that resulted in hospitalizations was reportedly triggered by frustration over scarce food supplies.

Families of inmates expressed no surprise at the report’s findings, with one wife describing mealtimes as consisting of minimal portions such as a jacket potato with a spoonful of beans or a bread roll with a small amount of tuna mayo, often without vegetables. She recounted how her husband, who worked in the servery, would apologize for the small portions and how on Fridays, when fish and chips were served, not everyone received a meal. Attempts to raise these issues with G4S were dismissed, despite inspectors themselves being shocked by the inadequate servings.

Taylor described the meals as “not always adequate,” highlighting the lack of healthy options like fresh fruit and vegetables in the prison shop, which inmates could buy from. One prisoner’s family said he relied heavily on pot noodles due to the limited food available, while another noted that being in the last group to eat meant often finding very little food left. The report also pointed out poor supervision during mealtimes, leading to inconsistent portion sizes and unhygienic food handling practices that risked cross-contamination.

In response, G4S stated it is collaborating with caterer Aramark and consulting inmates to improve food provision, acknowledging prisoners’ criticisms and promising to expand fresh fruit and vegetable options in the prison shop. The inspection uncovered a “serious deterioration in standards,” with significant problems related to self-harm, violence, and drug smuggling, including cell windows that could be easily opened to allow drones to deliver contraband-a problem previously reported by WalesOnline. G4S said work to replace these windows is ongoing.

While the 2022 inspection had rated Parc’s safety as “reasonably good,” the new report attributed many current issues to G4S’s ten-year contract, which it described as the “root” of the prison’s destabilization. WalesOnline asked the UK Government if it would continue awarding such lengthy contracts to private operators, but received no direct answer. A government spokeswoman did confirm ongoing collaboration with G4S to prevent drug smuggling at Parc.

The inspection also raised concerns about the prison’s dental service, which has worsened since 2022 when routine dental care wait times were already around 18 months. Now, only urgent dental cases are treated due to limited surgery space, a situation described as “inexcusable” given the timeline and poor dental health outcomes. One prisoner’s family recounted a three-day wait for treatment of a serious dental abscess.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, responsible for healthcare at Parc, acknowledged the report’s recognition of improvements but admitted more work is needed to reduce dental care wait times. They emphasized that limited space restricts patient treatment capacity and said they are working quickly with the prison to increase services.

Welsh Affairs committee chair Ruth Jones responded to the report by expressing deep concern over Parc’s ongoing issues, despite previous progress under director Will Styles. She called on G4S to provide adequate resources and announced plans for an urgent meeting with the head of the prison service in Wales to discuss monitoring and response strategies.