Anticipation.

PATROLS are to be stepped up around a South Wales prison to clamp down on drugs and other illegal items being smuggled inside.

South Wales Police is joining forces with G4S, which operates HMP Parc in Bridgend, to clamp down on the increasing trend of smuggling banned items into the male prison in Bridgend.

Police are warning that trying to smuggle drugs and other banned items into Parc Prison could land those involved behind bars themselves.

That’s the message from South Wales Police, who have begun Operation Violet Gibson to tackle the problem.

It comes after detectives in Bridgend made a number of arrests during recent months – including four in the past few days – after an increase in people trying to deliver contraband to serving inmates.

The warning follows a 53-year-old Cardiff man being sentenced to a 14-month jail term in April for his involvement in importing banned items into Parc Prison.

Detectives were able to forensically link him to a package found in the grounds of the Bridgend prison in December last year.

Detective Inspector Dean Taylor, of South Wales Police, has described smuggling and trying to smuggle drugs and other banned items into the prison as an increasing trend.

He said: “We are working closely with G4S to clamp down on it.

“In the last few days alone we have made four arrests, thanks to the vigilance and determination of staff inside the prison, and we are also stepping up patrols around the prison in order to both deter and catch those attempting to throw banned items over the prison walls.

“Items thrown or smuggled into prisons can cause a whole range of problems for prison staff and other inmates, and often serve to encourage and increase the crimes we are determinedly trying to stamp out.

“Quite simply, it will not be tolerated and we will take robust action against anyone who is caught attempting to illegally import items into any of South Wales’ prisons.”

G4S deputy director for HMP Parc Lisette Saunders said: “While we are committed to reducing demand for drugs in prison by getting prisoners into treatment programmes and encouraging them to make healthier choices, our partnership with South Wales Police underlines our resolve to tackle supply from the outside.

“There is no place for drugs in our prison community and we will always work with the police to push for tough sanctions in court.

“Anyone trying to bring in contraband faces the real prospect of ending up behind bars.”

Two people were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of bringing, throwing or conveying a prohibited item into or out of a prison after an incident at Parc Prison.

The 19-year-old woman from Cardiff and a 24-year-old man have both been released under investigation.

A 38-year-old woman from Ammanford was also arrested on the same day on suspicion of bringing, throwing or conveying a prohibited item into or out of a prison after a package was allegedly discovered in her bra.

She has since been released under investigation.