The Howard League for Penal Reform has responded to Her Majesty’s
Inspectorate of Prisons’ report on the children’s unit in G4S-run
Parc prison in Wales, published today (Tuesday 18 April).
The critical inspection report comes seven months after the
Howard League raised its own concerns about the running of the
prison, following a visit last September.
Howard League staff were so concerned by what they found in Parc
that they wrote to G4S, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons
and the Youth Justice Board to recommend urgent action.
Points raised in the letter included concern that cells were too
small, with unscreened lavatories and no ventilation. Boys slept
on solid plinths with inadequate bedding and shabby mattresses
infested with bed bugs.
A system of ‘seconds’ meant that many boys did not get enough
food on first serving and only some who were favourites with
staff got seconds.
Boys also complained about the quality of education. They said
that they wanted to learn but merely listened to music and sat
about.
The letter referred to serious allegations of racism, to which
staff seemed to be unaware and unequipped to understand or
respond.
The Howard League raised concerns about misinformation being
presented by G4S to the children, their parents and to the public
about issues like release on a temporary licence to help with
resettlement.
One boy was only permitted to say goodbye to his dying mother by
Skype, with a prison officer sitting in on the conversation.
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for
Penal Reform, said: “I was deeply concerned by what
I saw in Parc last September. G4S responded to my letter and
promised to address the issues, but clearly there are still
problems.
“Because of concerns about the quality of care in Parc, the
number of boys being held there has been significantly reduced.
It is time now to close it down.
“There exists an excellent unit nearby, run by the local
authority, which cares for children in a secure setting.”
The Howard League’s free advice line has received a number of
calls from children and young people in Parc.
Young people and their carers have told the charity’s legal team
about feeling discriminated against, and have raised concerns
about inappropriate behaviour by staff.
Examples include:
Two children who have told the Howard League that they were
isolated in their cells for more than 22 hours a day, for a
prolonged period, because it was deemed that they could not
safely mix with other children.
A number of young people who have told the Howard League that
they feel staff treat them differently because of their race.
The mother of a child in Parc, who was concerned that he had
repeatedly been inappropriately restrained by officers, causing
him injuries.
