Sir Keir Starmer Blames ‘Terrible Inheritance’ for Emergency Prison Measures Amid Riot Fallout

Starmer attributes the need for urgent prison actions to a 'terrible inheritance'

As a response to a surge in court proceedings linked to recent riots, Operation Early Dawn has been implemented, resulting in numerous individuals receiving prison sentences.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Monday, August 19, 2024, 5:

Sir Keir Starmer stated that the government is addressing public safety concerns through its implementation of emergency procedures designed to avoid overcrowding in prisons.

While visiting Belfast, the prime minister attributed the necessity of initiating Operation Early Dawn to the "dismal legacy" left by the previous Conservative administration and the recent outbreaks of far-right violence.

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The established emergency protocol postpones the appearance of defendants in a magistrates' court until there is an available spot in prison, in case they are taken into custody.

Originally implemented by the Conservative administration, this policy permits the holding of defendants in police detention facilities when prisons are at maximum capacity.

When questioned if the strategy could jeopardize public safety by reallocating police resources or increasing the number of prisoners on bail, Sir Keir acknowledged that the government faced "extremely difficult choices, which no one is eager to make."

He attributed this to the "dreadful legacy of prison systems left by the preceding administration."

"The prime minister stated that the fundamental issue was the lack of sufficient prison capacity to accommodate the growing number of sentenced inmates."

"The previous administration's mishandling was essentially as fundamental a breakdown as one could imagine.

"Recently, managing the situation has been further complicated by the added stress of the disorder."

When questioned about the danger to public safety, Sir Keir stated that the government is "handling that risk… to ensure that there are adequate spaces for prisoners."

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Highlighting the rapid reaction to the disturbances, the Prime Minister noted, "The decisive actions taken by the criminal justice system in response to the recent unrest have played a significant role in the temporary quelling of these disturbances."

Authorities are expediting the legal proceedings against individuals allegedly connected to the recent unrest across various UK regions, having detained over 1,000 suspects and filed 400 charges, with substantial prison terms being imposed on the convicted.

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The Ministry of Justice stated that by addressing "violent thuggery on our streets" with firm measures, the existing problems of overcrowded prisons in the UK, which have been at critical levels for the past few years, have worsened.

What does Operation Early Dawn entail?

This initiative permits individuals awaiting their court dates to be detained in police facilities until additional space in prisons is accessible.

Individuals detained are brought before judicial officers only after additional space in the detention facilities is secured.

The approach is designed to reduce interruptions during bail hearings and is considered a temporary solution to alleviate capacity issues in several areas.

The procedure includes evaluations conducted each morning and repeatedly over the course of the day.

This examines which accused individuals are eligible to attend court hearings and identifies the available detention facilities should they be taken into custody.

The new policy will not affect current crown court cases involving inmates who attend court sessions and then go back to prison as usual.

Operation Early Dawn will not affect the police's capacity to apprehend offenders – ensuring that those who pose a threat will continue to be denied bail.

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Operation Early Dawn is set to be implemented in the regions of North East and Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, as well as Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire.

Downing Street announced that the measures might be activated and deactivated multiple times in the coming weeks as necessary.

Policy 'to postpone judicial proceedings'

The decision has raised concerns among prison officials and legal authorities.

Tom Franklin, the head of the Magistrates' Association, stated that the initiatives would cause postponements in defendants being presented in court.

Mark Fairhurst, the national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, stated that although the most severe offenders are assured a court trial and a prison cell, those committing minor offenses might face extended time in police custody or receive bail.

He emphasized that this would not allow individuals who would typically face incarceration to evade it.

Nick Emmerson, the head of the Law Society of England and Wales, has expressed concerns that reviving Operation Early Dawn could affect everyone involved in legal proceedings, including victims, defendants, and attorneys. He emphasized that continuous funding is essential for the criminal justice system to prevent it from failing entirely.

Operation Early Dawn was initiated by the Conservative government in May as an effort to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons.

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In a recent statement, the Ministry of Justice reported that incidents of violence and self-harm in prisons had escalated to critical levels, exacerbated by severe overcrowding that is bringing the facilities to the brink of failure.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled proposals to reduce the percentage of their sentence that prisoners are required to serve in custody from 50% to 40%.

The provisional measure, excluding individuals guilty of sexual offenses, terrorism, domestic violence, or certain violent crimes, is anticipated to lead to the release of 5,500 offenders during the months of September and October.

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