Director resigns at prison where 10 inmates died
The director of a prison where 10 inmates have died in the last three months has quit.
Heather Whitehead took over the running of the HMP Parc in Bridgend in August 2023.
Her departure with immediate effect was "not in response to one single incident”, security firm G4S, which runs the private prison said.
Ten inmates have died at the prison since 27 February and three prisoners were also taken to hospital following disorder at the prison on Friday.
Will Styles, who has been with G4S for a year running HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, has been appointed as the new director.
"Will has over 30 years’ experience in the prison service having led a number of large, complex prisons, both public and private and served four years as a Prison Group Director for the Long Term and High Security Estate," a spokesperson for HMP Parc said in a statement.
At least four of the deaths are believed to be drug-related, while one prison staff member has been arrested in connection with drug dealing there.
G4S has previously said it has a "zero-tolerance policy towards drugs".
