Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
A message from the released detainee, Mahmoud al-Arida, to Al Mayadeen channel: We will never forget your historic role
A message from the released detainee, Mahmoud al-Arida, to Al Mayadeen channel: You are at the vanguard of free media... salutations to the free Al-Mayadeen channel
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration

England, Wales jails overcrowded, will reach ‘breaking point’ in July

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Jun 2024 08:51
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

The development will likely trigger Operation Early Dawn, a crisis measure that permits offenders to be housed in police cells when prisons are full.

Listen
  • x
  • Prisons
    Barbed and razor wires are installed on the fence at The Port Isabel Detention Center, as seen during a media tour of the Port Isabel Detention Center (PIDC), in Los Fresnos, Texas, June 10, 2024. (AP)

Prison governors in England and Wales have been cautioned that by the second week of July, jails will be so overcrowded that they will struggle to accommodate any more inmates, creating an immediate crisis for the incoming UK government, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

HM Prison and Probation Service officials informed prison heads in England and Wales earlier this month that data indicates an “operational capacity breaking point” will be reached just days after the general election on July 4.

The news website suggested that the development will likely trigger Operation Early Dawn, a crisis measure that permits offenders to be housed in police cells when prisons are full, and may also lead magistrates' courts to delay cases. These measures complement a temporary government scheme that allows prisoners to be released up to 70 days early.

Legal challenges may hinder further overcrowding

"We understand that we will no longer be able to receive prisoners from court in the second to third week of July. It is not an exact science – but it is very soon after the election," stated Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association.

He noted that "this position was projected some time ago," indicating that "the outgoing government did not take the necessary action in a timely fashion to avoid this."

Related News

Britain poised to formally recognize Palestine on Sunday

UK town protests JD Vance’s holiday in the Cotswolds

Wheatley added that any attempt to further overcrowd prisons beyond their operational capacity could face legal challenges, saying, "If a new government arrives and says: ‘We want more people in,’ it would be challenged in court by the PGA because ministers would be placing our members at risk."

According to The Guardian, Operation Early Dawn is typically used for very short periods, usually no longer than a week, to manage immediate, localized pressures on the prison estate

It enhances coordination between police stations, the Prison Service, and the courts to ensure that no one is taken to court unless the Prison Service can guarantee a space for them if they are remanded.

The latest figures released by the Ministry of Justice on 14 June showed that the usable capacity in prisons across England and Wales was 88,815, while the population was 87,347.

Operation Early Dawn was triggered in May in London and northeast England before being rolled out across the country due to concerns over prison overcrowding. During the same month, police were also instructed to consider making fewer arrests due to the lack of space in prisons.

Officials have also developed plans to reduce the time served by prisoners from the current halfway point in their sentences to about 43%.

The Guardian noted that the Conservative party has laid aside its pledge to ensure that most sentences under 12 months should be suspended and served in the community, rather than in prison. This proposal was part of the sentencing bill introduced during the last session of parliament, but its progress stalled when a group of right-wing Tory MPs opposed the policy.

The news website cited Labour insiders as saying that the party would push through planning permission for new prisons but have not specified how they would address the immediate overcrowding crisis, noting they lacked access to government data but were aware of the "brutal inheritance" they face, given that the party is widely expected to form the next UK government.

Read more: UK gov. accused of spending over £130bln in taxpayer money

  • England
  • Labour Party
  • Conservative Party
  • Wales
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Freed Palestinian prisoners carry rifles as they arrive in the Gaza Strip following their release from Israeli jails, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance remains steadfast, victorious Larijani says

Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Laffan inspecting the command structure of the 10th Infantry Brigade in Kfarskhna-Zgharta on October 13, 2025. (Lebanonese Army)
Politics

Lebanese Army chief: Israeli aggression threatens Lebanon's security

Hamas fighters escort buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arriving in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

154 Palestinian prisoners exiled to Egypt under exchange deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives before US President Donald Trump addresses the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, October 13, 2025 in Occupied Al-Quds. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Politics

Netanyahu withdraws from Sharm El-Sheikh summit amid regional pushback

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS