More alcohol found at Parc than other UK jails
THERE were more alcohol finds at HMP Parc in 2017 than all other G4S prisons in England and Wales combined, new evidence has found.
Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre presented new findings on drugs, alcohol and homelessness to the House of Commons’ Welsh Affairs Committee and held an evidence session at the National Assembly in Cardiff as part of its inquiry into prison provision in Wales.
The Wales Governance Centre’s Dr Robert Jones was then questioned by MPs on the new data and on his previous Imprisonment in Wales Factfile.
The findings, from Ministry of Justice figures, reveal ongoing challenges within the prison system around drug and alcohol finds, as well as the persistent linkage between homelessness and imprisonment.
Among the findings presented to the committee were that there were 227 alcohol finds in Welsh prisons in 2017.
But despite holding just 48% of the total prison population in Wales, 84% of all alcohol finds were at HMP Parc in 2017.
That means there were more alcohol finds at HMP Parc in 2017, at 191, than G4S’ other prisons in England and Wales – HMP Altcourse, HMP Birmingham, HMP Oakwood and HMP Rye Hill – combined.
There was also a 475% increase in the number of drugs finds in Welsh prisons in 2013 to 2018. That is compared to a 200% increase in English prisons.
HMP Swansea had the highest number of drug finds in Wales per 100 prisoners in the year ending March 2018. A quarter of all prisoners also presented as homeless entering prison in Wales in 2017.
Dr Jones said: “This new evidence builds on the previous research we have carried out in the Imprisonment in Wales Factfile.
“Drug and alcohol finds within the prison system have been a matter of public and media interest in recent weeks, and the latest data available for Wales suggests that a concerning and challenging set of circumstances has emerged within the prisons system.
“Agencies and organisations within the criminal justice system will now be considering how to address these challenges. It is likely that given its commitment to reduce homelessness and tackle substance misuse, the Welsh Government will be taking a keen interest in this data and the prison system in Wales, which is the responsibility of the UK Government.”
Director of HM Prison Parc, Janet Wallsgrove, said: “We do not tolerate alcohol at HMP Parc. Our officers carry out regular intelligence led searches of cells and other areas with specially trained dogs that can detect fermenting alcohol and other contraband.
“Prisoners that are found attempting to ferment alcohol are automatically referred to an independent adjudicator and can have time added to their sentence.”