© Tom Blewitt – HMP Prisons Justice Group
A former officer at HMP Parc has come under scrutiny following disturbing revelations about his conduct while employed at the privately run prison. We do know the full identity of this officer but he will only be Identified as J.WK for legal reasons. The ex-staff member allegedly boasted to his former girlfriend about taking pleasure in “twisting the lads up”—a slang term widely understood to mean physically restraining or rough-handling inmates.
Although J.WK has since been dismissed from his role, we can confirm that his sacking was unrelated to these allegations. The disclosure adds to a growing catalogue of scandals surrounding Parc Prison, intensifying public concern over the facility’s culture and oversight.
Parc Prison, located in Bridgend, is run by private company G4S and has faced mounting criticism in recent years. The prison has recorded 38 deaths since the start of 2022, and has been plagued by reports of staff smuggling drugs, orchestrating attacks on inmates, and failing to contain escalating violence.
One of the most shocking breaches involved a 15-year-old girl being added to a sex offenders pin at the prison, the offender went on to call the victim 178 times—a lapse that has sparked outrage with the public.
The latest claims about J.WK’s behaviour have reignited calls for the UK government to take full control of the prison. HMP Prisons groups and families of inmates argue that the current system fosters impunity and abuse, and that urgent reform is needed.
A spokesperson for the HMP Prisons’ Justice Group condemned the culture of violence and neglect:
“This is happening all too often. We constantly get reports of prison officers attacking inmates inside HMP Parc. Nothing ever gets done against these officers. The lads inside these prisons are there to be rehabilitated so they can return to society and make good with their lives—not to be beaten up and bullied by prison officers who get a kick out of it. The officers involved should be behind bars themselves.”
“This isn’t just about one officer. It’s about a system that enables bullying, cruelty, cover-ups and misconduct. It’s a system that fails to protect the vulnerable.”
HMP Prisons’ Justice Group are urging the Ministry of Justice to bring Parc into public control, arguing that G4S has failed to uphold basic standards of safety, dignity, and rehabilitation.
As scrutiny intensifies, the question remains: how many more scandals must surface before meaningful change is enacted?
HMP Prisons Justice Group 