Police are being instructed to consider making fewer arrests because of the lack of space in prisons. A letter from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) circulated last week urges chief constables to think about “pausing” so-called “non-priority arrests”.
It also suggests halting planned operations where a large number of arrests could take place to “ease the pressure within the criminal justice system”.
It comes as court cases are being delayed and some prisoners are being released early due to overcrowding in prisons.
The government said the impact of the pandemic and barristers’ strike was putting pressure on jails, but Labour said the Conservative “mismanagement” of the criminal justice system “cannot go on”.
The NPCC letter dated 14 May, first reported in the Times, said: “Consideration is to be given to pausing non-priority arrests and any planned operations, where large numbers of arrests may take place to ease the pressure within the criminal justice system.
Source: BBC
In other news – Terrorism police charge man after substances found
A man has been charged by counter terrorism police after suspicious substances were found in a village. Bedfordshire Police made the discovery at an address in Caddington, near Luton, on 6 May.
Harry Whittaker, 31, of Caddington, is accused of four counts of possessing an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose, the Metropolitan Police said. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London later. Read more
