PRISON GUARDS GET US PHONES, CLAIMS INMATE
POLICE are investigating allegations prison officers are selling mobile phones for £400 to drug dealers in Wales’ biggest privately run jail. Inmates at Bridgend’s massive 2,000-inmate Parc Prison told WalesOnline that prisoners were able to post photos onto Facebook because they were being supplied by guards.
Last year one Facebook page called Parc Banter was shut down after we brought that to the attention of the authorities.
We put the allegations that the phones were being supplied by guards to private operator G4S. It has referred the matter to South Wales Police and the force has confirmed it is investigating.
An MP and two AMs have called for a full investigation.
One prisoner, who admitted they were inside for peddling narcotics, told our reporter: “It’s the prison officers bringing them in to us.”
He alleged they were getting them into the Category B lock-up by removing metal components to get them through security.
“Loads of us have phones,” the prisoner said.
He listed a number of prisoners, many of whom we have reported on for their involvement in drug crime.
We are not naming them, or the prison officers he made allegations against, for legal reasons.
The prisoner sent a video of one inmate showing off a mobile phone made by JCB – better known for making construction equipment.
He claimed phones were being used to manage Facebook pages and for Snapchat.
The 23-year-old said some of the prison officers would flirt with prisoners, claiming he had had “the odd kiss”.
Parc Prison is in the Bridgend constituency of MP Madeleine Moon.
“This is something the prison service needs to get on top of quickly,” the politician said.
“I will be speaking to the management of G4S and Parc.
She said the claims were “extremely worrying”.
“It is one thing to set up a Facebook page, but if someone has been convicted of drugs offences and are able to use mobile phones, that is deeply alarming,” she said.
“That is not what prison is about. An allegation of a prison officer bringing in a phone and selling it is a serious offence.”
South Wales West Assembly Member Bethan Jenkins AM said: “This is obviously something which needs to be addressed quickly by the relevant authorities.
“This fits a worrying trend of problems emerging across the wider prison estate.”
Dai Lloyd AM added: “These allegations are hugely concerning and this type of collaboration between prison officers and prisoners not only breaches the expected standards but is also a threat to the security, order and control of the prison.
“There clearly needs to be an investigation into this particular case and it needs to be undertaken swiftly.
“I would expect senior leaders within the prison to be taking action to remedy any wrongs as quickly as possible.
“If this is proven to be true, then clearly disciplinary action should follow, but if more than one prison officer is found to be guilty, then it suggests that there is a cultural issue within the prison which needs to be tackled.”
A South Wales Police spokesman said: “This matter, having been brought to our attention, will now be looked into.”
HM Prison Parc director Janet Wallsgrove said: “We can confirm that our colleagues within HM Prison and Probation Service have shut down a Facebook account following pictures being posted by a prisoner at HMP Parc and all allegations have been referred to South Wales police.
“There is no place for mobile phones in prison, we will continue to work and seize prohibited items and work with partners to take down social media content uploaded illegally by prisoners.”
In August, Parc Prison officer Stephen George, 37, from Llanelli, was jailed for six months for messaging an inmate who had a mobile.