The government has triggered an emergency measure to use police cells to hold prisoners, as jails are close to being full again.
‘Operation Safeguard’ is an agreement between the National Police Chief Council and the prison service allowing inmates to be held in police cells where prisons are full.
It was used in May last year for a number of months. Ministers are expected to announce the policy later today.
There are currently 87,556 people in prison, meaning there are fewer than 800 spaces left.
It is the highest population figure since September, when ‘early release’ measures saw thousands of inmates freed after serving 40% of their sentence.
Sources close to the prison service suggest the scheme has not had the desired effect, as the government hoped the measure would free up enough space in jails to last until 2026.
Meanwhile, remedial works have taken many cell spaces out of circulation.
‘Safeguard’ is expected to be used for a number of weeks and will be kept under review, but there’s no limit to how long the measure could be in operation.
The government has promised to build 14,000 additional prison places by 2031. HMP Millsike, a new jail in Yorkshire, will provide 1,500 spaces and is set to open in the coming weeks.
An independent review of sentencing policy, led by former Conservative justice secretary, David Gauke, is expected later in the spring, and will make suggestions as to how policies can be reformed to send fewer people to prison.
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A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The new government inherited a prison system in crisis and took the necessary action to stop our jails from running out of cells.
“Operation Safeguard is a well-established process that will help manage temporary capacity pressures, ahead of the new 1,500 capacity HMP Millsike opening in a few weeks’ time.”
