The British government on Monday initiated emergency protocols to address the escalating issue of prison overcrowding, as an increasing number of individuals are being sentenced for their involvement in the recent civil disturbances.
According to BBC, the contingency plan, known as Operation Early Dawn, was reactivated early Monday morning. This system had previously been implemented by the Conservative administration in May as a temporary measure to alleviate the strain on the justice system.
In the northern regions of England, defendants awaiting court proceedings will be held in police custody until space becomes available in the prison system.
The government acknowledged that its firm stance against “violent thuggery on our streets” has intensified the pre-existing capacity challenges within the prison network.
The minister responsible for prisons, Lord Timpson, remarked, “We inherited a justice system in crisis and exposed to shocks. As a result, we have been forced into making difficult but necessary decisions to keep it operating.”
He emphasized that the emergency measures are crucial for “managing the pressure felt in some parts of the country.”
Timpson also assured the public that individuals who pose a risk will not be granted bail, and that the police’s capability to arrest offenders will remain unaffected.
Nev Kemp, representing the National Police Chiefs’ Council, stated, “We are working closely with criminal justice system partners to manage demand in the system and ensure that the public are safe. Policing will continue to arrest anyone that they need to in order to keep the public safe, including policing protests and events and ensuring that people are arrested as expected.”
