It comes after a report earlier this year found there was an ‘alarming’ flow of drugs into Parc Prison, some of which entered the prison via drones
Two men were caught smuggling drugs into a crisis-hit Welsh prison using a drone, a court has heard. Nicholas Mann, 34, and Kyle Morris, 24, were jailed after a package containing illicit substances was recovered from the grounds of HMP Parc in Bridgend.
Mann and Morris, both from Bristol, were caught following an operation by roads policing officers from South Wales Police, who identified a VW T-ROC linked to drug supply activities within the area. On June 17, at approximately 11.50pm, the vehicle was abandoned in a layby near the A4061, prompting an extensive search by the roads policing and dog units.
During the search officers observed a drone delivering a package to the prison yard before returning to the common land. They then spotted Mann and Morris fleeing the scene. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Officers searched for the men and Mann was found hiding in the undergrowth, while Morris was caught red-handed nearby with a shopping bag containing a drone propeller.
Upon arrest officers seized a mobile phone from Mann and later recovered a package dropped within the prison grounds. The package, described as a black sock with fishing wire, was found to contain illicit substances believed to be cannabis and spice.
Mann, of Duckmoor Road, Ashton, Bristol, and Morris, of Richeson Walk, Bristol, were each sentenced to 21 months in prison at Merthyr Crown Court following their convictions for bringing prohibited items into HMP Parc.
Detective Sergeant Lia Jones said: “This case highlights the ongoing efforts of South Wales Police and HMP Parc to combat drug smuggling and maintain safety within prison facilities.”
Earlier this year, a damning report into Bridgend’s Parc prison found a failure to tackle an “alarming” flow of drugs led to “a spate of tragic deaths” inside the jail.
The inspection concluded that standards had “declined significantly” from 2022 because of private security giant G4S winning a 10-year contract to run the jail.
Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor pointed to serious deficiencies including cell windows that can be easily opened from inside, allowing drugs to be pulled in from drones.
Last year there were 17 inmate deaths at Parc — more than any other UK prison — of which five were drug-related, three self-inflicted, eight of natural causes, and one of unknown causes.
Nearly a third of random drug test results were positive, some 57% of prisoners said it was easy to get illegal drugs, and 34% had developed a drug or alcohol problem since arriving at the prison, which has a population of around 1,700 inmates.
A cluster of five drug deaths between February and May last year were “likely” caused by synthetic opioids, according to the report.
In response to the report into Parc, a G4S spokeswoman previously said: “The first six months of 2024 were extremely difficult and our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the men that passed away. Since then, considerable work has been carried out to make significant improvements at the prison.” You can read their full statement here.
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