© Tom Blewitt & Zack Griffiths – HMP Prisons Justice Group
Reform UK Senedd Member Dr Gareth Thomas MS has come under criticism after publicly praising HMP Parc in Bridgend following a visit to the prison.
HMP Parc, which is operated by G4S, has faced significant scrutiny in recent years following dozens of deaths, critical inspection findings and ongoing concerns over safety, drugs, violence and healthcare provision.
Following his visit, Dr Thomas posted the following statement on social media:
“Today, Dr Gareth Thomas MS/AS visited HMP Parc in Bridgend, which is operated by G4S. It was a pleasure to meet the Governor and dedicated staff and to receive a tour of the prison.
“It was encouraging to see first-hand the work being undertaken to help keep prisoners safe and provide the support and rehabilitation services they need. Thank you to the Governor and all staff at HMP Parc for their warm welcome and for the important work they carry out every day.”
However, the comments have sparked criticism from campaigners and members of the public who argue that the reality inside HMP Parc differs significantly from the picture presented by the Reform politician.
Deaths and Safety Concerns
HMP Parc has recorded 46 deaths since the beginning of 2022, making it the prison with the highest number of deaths in the United Kingdom during that period.
The prison has been the subject of intense public scrutiny following a series of deaths, concerns surrounding drug misuse, allegations of violence and bullying, and questions about healthcare provision and prisoner welfare.
For many families who have lost loved ones while in custody, Dr Thomas’s comments have been viewed as particularly insensitive given the scale of the issues that have emerged at the prison in recent years.
Damning Inspectorate Findings
Recent findings by HM Inspectorate of Prisons paint a starkly different picture to the one described by Dr Thomas following his visit.
An unannounced inspection found that standards at HMP Parc had deteriorated significantly, with inspectors raising serious concerns about violence, self-harm, drugs, healthcare and prisoner safety.
The Chief Inspector of Prisons stated that the prison had become “far too violent” and reported that levels of self-harm had increased by 58% since the previous inspection.
Inspectors found that the availability and use of illegal drugs were widespread throughout the prison. Nearly one-third of random drug tests returned positive results, while more than half of prisoners surveyed said it was easy to obtain illicit substances inside the prison.
The report identified drug misuse as one of the prison’s most significant challenges, with almost 900 drug finds recorded in a single year. More than a third of prisoners on some wings reported developing a drug or alcohol problem while serving their sentence at HMP Parc.
Violence remained a major concern. Inspectors found high levels of assaults and concluded that prison leaders had only a limited understanding of the causes. Prisoners reported concerns about violence, drugs, inconsistent regimes and spending excessive periods locked in their cells.
The inspection found that many prisoners were spending up to 21 hours a day locked in their cells because they had not been allocated work, training or education.
Healthcare provision was also criticised. Inspectors found that action to address health risks had been too slow and highlighted concerns over mental health services, substance misuse support and the availability of clinical facilities.
The report identified eight priority concerns requiring urgent attention, including violence, drugs, self-harm, healthcare shortcomings and weaknesses in rehabilitation services.
Inspectors also highlighted the scale of deaths within the prison. Since the previous inspection there had been four self-inflicted deaths and eight deaths either suspected or confirmed to be linked to drug misuse, with additional deaths awaiting official classification at the time of the inspection.
Critics have questioned how Dr Thomas could describe it as “encouraging” to see work being undertaken to keep prisoners safe without acknowledging the findings of inspectors.
Campaign Group Response
The comments drew a strong response from admins of HMP Prisons Justice Group.
Zack Griffiths of HMP Prisons Justice Group said:
“He’s a disgrace for making such a statement publicly without either knowing the facts or deliberately avoiding them. They have the highest death record of any prison in the UK. How much did they pay you to say this? The poor mums who have lost their boys will be absolutely sickened by this.”
Tom Blewitt, also of HMP Prisons Justice Group, said:
“HMP Parc is the most unsafe prison in the UK. The death rate is out of control, bullying, drug use, violence, healthcare—it’s a total mess. The comments made by this Reform politician show that he’s out of his depth. He’s done no research and hasn’t even bothered to read the inspectorate reports into HMP Parc. G4S should be taken out and marched out of that building one by one. It doesn’t matter how many times they change directors. The problem is G4S and private prisons. Dr Gareth Thomas’ comments are a disgrace and an insult to all the families who have lost their loved ones.”
Public Backlash
Dr Thomas has also faced criticism from members of the public on social media following his visit.
Phil Murray said:
“Safe? Not according to inspectors and former members of staff. Drugs are easily accessible, there have been allegations of staff misconduct, and deaths of inmates.”
Drew Evans said:
“Literally one of the most unsafe prisons in the UK, but of course, privatisation is great, right?”
Paul Jones said:
“Have you thought about doing your job rather than doing a PR job for G4S? The Senedd has no responsibility for prisons.”
Benjamin Llewellyn said:
“Private firms don’t work. Simple. They run on profit. You can’t make a profit from a prison.”
Questions for Reform UK
The controversy has also raised questions for Reform UK and Dr Thomas, who was elected to the Senedd in 2026.
Critics argue that elected representatives should fully consider official inspection findings, publicly available safety concerns and the experiences of bereaved families before praising institutions facing significant scrutiny.
The backlash highlights the continuing controversy surrounding HMP Parc, the role of private prison operators and the wider debate over prison safety in Wales.
For many campaigners and families affected by deaths at the prison, Dr Thomas’s comments have become the latest flashpoint in an ongoing debate about accountability, safety and the future of HMP Parc under G4S management.
HMP Prisons Justice Group 