More than third of deaths of ex-prisoners on probation drug related, says report

David Bennett, from Wallich, Wales's largest homelessness charity, claimed most drug-related deaths "are preventable if we treat drug use as a health, not criminal justice, issue".

"Housing, health and justice need a joined-up approach," he said.

He said the charity supported "conversations to devolve justice and policing" and said without "co-ordinated" support prison leavers were "being set up to fail".

"The war on drugs hasn't worked," he added.

The report also says homelessness among former prisoners in Wales is continuing to rise.

The number of people leaving prison, supervised by Welsh probation services, who were recorded as rough sleeping on the day of their release rose by 24% in 2025-26.

In total, 695 prison leavers managed by Welsh probation services were rough sleeping on the day of their release.

Other findings include that more than a third (39%) of all custodial sentences given to women in Wales in 2025 were for offences related to thefts from shops.

Meanwhile, people from black ethnic groups in Wales remained the most overrepresented ethnic group in the prison population in 2025.

There were 58 black people from Wales in prison for every 10,000 of the population, compared with 15 white people per 10,000 of the population.

A spokesperson for the Welsh government said: "Every drug-related death is a tragedy.

"We are working closely with health boards, local authorities, Public Health Wales and other key partners to reduce the harms caused by substance misuse, focusing on early intervention, prevention, treatment and recovery support."

They added that the findings "strengthen the case for the full devolution of justice to Wales".