Emergency Protocol Initiated to Prevent Prison Overcrowding
Defendants facing jail sentences as a result of recent riots will be held in police cells until space in prison becomes available, rather than being summoned to magistrates’ court.
Due to a surge in custodial sentences following the riots, an emergency measure has been implemented in the north of England to prevent prison overcrowding.
Operation Early Dawn was activated on Monday morning by the Ministry of Justice, allowing defendants to be held in police cells until there is space in prison. This temporary plan is designed to prevent prisons from reaching full capacity and avoid remanding defendants into custody after entering a plea.
Currently, 327 individuals are in prison for their involvement in the disorder, with over 450 already appeared in court and 215 sentenced through a fast-track judicial process.
Individuals held on remand or receiving prison sentences through fast-tracked processes have been convicted of offences like inciting violence, including online crimes.
The measure will be implemented in the North East and Yorkshire, as well as parts of the north-west regions where prisons are closest to capacity.
Existing System Challenges
An announcement by Prisons and Probation Minister James Timpson highlighted the challenges faced by the justice system, necessitating difficult but vital choices to maintain operations.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council is collaborating with criminal justice system partners to manage demand and ensure public safety, even if police officers need to work overtime to supervise prisoners outside regular hours.
Predicted Pressure
Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association, predicted increased pressure due to a significant influx of new receptions last week. Implementation of Operation Early Dawn is expected to lead to limitations on arrests to free up cell space.
With rising violence and self-harm in overcrowded prisons, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to reduce the proportion of sentences served behind bars for some offenders, aiming to release 5,500 individuals this September and October. Additional probation officers will be recruited to manage these early releases.
PA Media contributed to this report
