Prisoners: Police Custody

To ensure we have sufficient prison capacity both in the immediate and the longer term, we are implementing a suite of measures to reduce the demand pressures on the prison system and to provide additional capacity. We are delivering 20,000 additional modern prison places, the largest prison build programme since the Victorian era, ensuring the right conditions are in place to rehabilitate prisoners, helping to cut crime and protect the public. As of end of April, we have already delivered c. 3,400 of these additional places, including through the brand-new prison, HMP Five Wells, which opened last year. Furthermore, we have delivered c.700 extra temporary places through modular units.

Operation Safeguard is a contingency measure that provides additional headroom for use if prisoners cannot be accepted from the courts or police custody. It is a temporary measure to provide a short-term solution. When Operation Safeguard is active, tactical and operational governance reviews take place at regular intervals, as agreed with police partners.