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A recent report reveals that over one-third of deaths among former prisoners on probation in Wales during a single year were linked to drug use. This proportion notably exceeds the combined figure for England and Wales, where drug-related fatalities accounted for just over 20% of total deaths. The Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University, which produced the report, has called on policymakers to address what it described as “systematic failures” within the criminal justice system.
Dr. Robert Jones, the report’s lead author, emphasized the urgency of this issue, urging both the UK and Welsh governments to develop a solution to this “tragic” situation. The Welsh government stated it is actively working to mitigate the harms caused by substance misuse, while the UK government highlighted its £3.4 million investment aimed at helping prison leavers overcome addiction. According to the findings, 37% of deaths among individuals supervised by probation services after leaving prison in Wales in 2024-25 were drug-related. Among these deaths, cases of drug poisonings classified as having “undetermined” intent represented 19 out of 52 fatalities.
Jones pointed out that this rate is significantly higher than the national average across England and Wales, where drug poisonings with undetermined intent constituted 21% of total deaths in the same period. He noted the unique political context in Wales, where criminal justice remains under the control of Westminster, despite calls from Plaid Cymru and previous Welsh Labour administrations to devolve this responsibility. Speaking to BBC Wales, Jones explained that the research utilized UK government data, including responses to Freedom of Information requests, revealing a lack of public and political debate about the deaths or strategies for preventing them. He highlighted that many relevant policy areas—such as housing, education, substance misuse, and local governance—are devolved to Wales, leading to a fragmentation between justice issues managed in Westminster and other social policies managed in Cardiff.
The report raises critical questions about whether the current devolution settlement grants the Welsh government adequate power to tackle root causes behind these challenges. Jones argued that meaningful progress requires confronting these stark realities head-on and called on politicians and policymakers to act accordingly to support Welsh communities.
David Bennett, representing Wallich, Wales’s largest homelessness charity, stated that most drug-related deaths could be avoided if drug use were treated primarily as a health issue rather than a criminal justice problem. He stressed the importance of a coordinated approach between housing, health, and justice services, and voiced support for discussions on devolving justice and policing powers to Wales. Bennett warned that without an integrated system of support, former prisoners face significant obstacles, describing current policies as setting them “up to fail” and dismissing the “war on drugs” as ineffective.
The report also highlights a rise in homelessness among former prisoners. In 2025-26, the number of individuals leaving prison under Welsh probation supervision who were recorded as rough sleeping on their release day increased by 24%, reaching a total of 695. Other findings reveal that in 2025, more than a third of custodial sentences handed to women in Wales were for shoplifting-related offences. Additionally, black ethnic groups remain disproportionately represented in the Welsh prison population, with 58 black people in prison per 10,000 population compared to 15 white people per 10,000.
A spokesperson for the Welsh government condemned drug-related deaths as tragic and reaffirmed efforts to work collaboratively with health boards, local authorities, Public Health Wales, and other partners to reduce substance misuse through early intervention, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. The spokesperson further argued that the report bolsters calls for full devolution of justice to Wales, suggesting that aligning justice responsibilities with devolved services could improve outcomes, reduce recidivism, and enhance community safety across the nation.
Meanwhile, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged existing challenges within prisons and pointed to ongoing actions, including investments aimed at reducing the female prison population and cutting drug supply into prisons. They noted the specific funding allocated to support prison leavers in Wales dealing with addiction, emphasizing that temporary accommodation can be arranged for prisoners at risk of homelessness through coordination between prison and probation services
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