In a bid to address the escalating issue of prison overcrowding in the wake of recent riots, the UK government has implemented emergency measures. Operation Early Dawn, a system previously employed by the Conservative government in May, has been reactivated, affecting defendants in the northern regions of England. This means individuals accused of crimes will be held in police cells until space becomes available in prisons, effectively postponing their transfer to a correctional facility.
The government attributes the need for these drastic measures to its intensified efforts to combat what it describes as “violent thuggery” on the streets, a stance that has exacerbated existing problems with prison capacity. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) reports that over 1,000 individuals have been arrested in connection with the recent violent disturbances in England and Northern Ireland. The Crown Prosecution Service has also confirmed that over 470 individuals have been charged in relation to these incidents.
The regions currently affected by Operation Early Dawn include the North East, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire. This means that defendants in these areas will only be summoned to a magistrates’ court when a prison space is available. Until then, they will remain in police custody, either in holding cells or on bail, while awaiting trial. The Ministry of Justice has asserted that individuals posing a risk to public safety will not be granted bail and that police operations will continue uninterrupted.
Prison Minister Lord Timpson acknowledged the challenges facing the justice system, stating, “We inherited a justice system in crisis, exposed to shocks, which has compelled us to make difficult but necessary decisions to keep it functioning.” He emphasized that the emergency measures are designed to alleviate the pressure in affected regions.
Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp of the NPCC underlined the collaborative efforts to manage the situation, saying, “We are coordinating closely with partners in the criminal justice system to manage demand and ensure public safety. Policing will persist in arresting individuals as needed to maintain safety, including during protests and events.”
However, these measures have not been universally welcomed. Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, expressed concerns about the potential impact of Operation Early Dawn on the justice system. He pointed to a significant increase in new prison admissions, noting that last week saw 397 new receptions with only 340 spaces remaining in the adult closed male estate.
In response to the growing overcrowding, the government has introduced additional measures. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced in July a temporary reduction in the proportion of a sentence that must be served in prison, decreasing it from 50% to 40%. This change is expected to result in the release of approximately 5,500 offenders in September and October. However, it’s important to note that this temporary adjustment will not apply to those convicted of sex offenses, terrorism, domestic abuse, or certain violent crimes. The government has confirmed that individuals involved in the recent unrest will not be exempt from these early release plans.
