UK judicial bodies will postpone imposing jail terms.
Due to the ongoing issue of prison overcrowding in the UK, the British justice system is implementing additional crisis measures. The Magistrates' Courts in England and Wales have been directed to delay hearings where a judge might sentence an individual to prison, as reported by the UK news agency PA.
Prisons have been functioning at full capacity for quite some time now. This situation has further escalated due to riots by far-right groups. Several cities in Britain have experienced intense riots and police attacks, leading to over a thousand arrests. Many of these arrested individuals have been given prison sentences. To alleviate the overcrowding situation, the government announced in July that some inmates would be released after serving 40% of their sentences, instead of the usual 50%.
This temporary measure does not apply to inmates serving time for terrorism, sexual offenses, domestic violence, or serious violence. The potential early release of around 5,500 individuals is anticipated in September and October as a result of this rule. Until then, Magistrates' Courts are requesting to postpone sentencing if a prison sentence seems likely, excluding Crown Courts which handle more serious charges.
In the past week, the government also activated an emergency plan for Northern England, titled "Operation Early Dawn." This plan allows defendants to be detained in police custody until a prison cell becomes available. Typically, they would be promptly brought before a Magistrates' Court, where a judge would then mandate remand in custody.
The European Union has expressed concern over the UK's prison overcrowding situation and the implementation of crisis measures. The additional measures, including early release of some inmates, might have implications for the EU's justice and home affairs policies.
Given the European Union's strong commitment to human rights and penal reform, it is expected that the EU will closely monitor the UK's approach to prison overcrowding and the use of crisis measures.
