A temporary measure to help ease overcrowding in prisons in England was activated by the government this morning (Monday, August 19).

The system, known as Operation Early Dawn, was previously used by the Conservative government in May.

Part of the reason this plan has been initiated is due to the sentencing of people involved in far-right riots that took place in late July and early August.

The government said that its action to "tackle violent thuggery on our streets" has "exacerbated longstanding capacity issues in our prisons" BBC News reports.

Across the north of England defendants waiting for a court appearance will be kept in police cells until prison space is available.

A number of steps have already been taken to increase capacity in prisons including making hundreds of prison places available including a new houseblock at HMP Stocken, the repurposed HMP Cookham Wood, and accelerated maintenance work in other prisons.

The Government website adds: "In the first week of forming a new Government, action was also taken to address the longstanding capacity issues in our prisons, announcing difficult but necessary changes to certain prison sentences.

"These changes will come into to force in early September, giving the Probation Service the time they need to safely release offenders, making such each person has somewhere to live once they leave prison and support into work." 

What did the Government have to say on prison overcrowding plan?

Prisons and Probation Minister, Lord Timpson, said: "We inherited a justice system in crisis and exposed to shocks. As a result, we have been forced into making difficult but necessary decisions to keep it operating.  

Recommended reading:

"However, thanks to the hard work of our dedicated staff and partners, we have brought forward additional prison places and now introduced Operation Early Dawn to manage the pressure felt in some parts of the country."

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Custody, Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp, said: "We are working closely with criminal justice system partners to manage demand in the system and ensure that the public are safe.

"Policing will continue to arrest anyone that they need to in order to keep the public safe, including policing protests and events and ensuring that people are arrested as expected."