LONDON: The UK government has activated emergency measures to manage overcrowding in prisons in northern England, prompted by a surge in convictions related to recent riots. The new initiative, named “Operation Early Dawn,” permits defendants to be detained in police cells and not summoned to court until prison space becomes available.
This decision comes as the Labour government warns of a looming “collapse” of the prison system due to the rising number of riot-related convictions. England and Wales already have the highest per capita prison population in Western Europe, leading to a crisis in capacity. The government has also announced plans to release thousands of prisoners early starting in September to alleviate the pressure.
Under Operation Early Dawn, officials will assess daily which defendants can attend court based on available prison capacity. Prisons Minister James Timpson acknowledged the dire situation, stating, “We inherited a justice system in crisis and exposed to shocks,” and emphasized the necessity of these difficult decisions to keep the system functioning.
The justice ministry assured that this measure will help manage short-term capacity issues in specific regions. However, there are concerns about the impact on policing and the broader criminal justice system. The Prison Officers’ Association and the Magistrates’ Association have warned that delays in court proceedings and police operations may result from the policy.
The recent riots, which erupted following the stabbing deaths of three girls in Southport, were exacerbated by far-right agitators, leading to attacks on police, mosques, and hotels housing asylum seekers.
