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Police cells used for new inmates Police cells used for new inmates
(30 minutes later)
New prisoners are being held in police cells as jails in England and Wales approach full capacity. Some new prisoners are being held in police cells as jails in England and Wales approach full capacity, the Home Office has confirmed.
The Home Office confirmed the emergency measures, known as Operation Safeguard, came into force on Saturday as the prison population neared 80,000. A spokeswoman said Operation Safeguard, came into force last Saturday as the prison population neared 80,000.
Nineteen police forces have freed up to 240 cells to cope with the initial influx, a spokeswoman said. Home Secretary John Reid accepted the move was "necessary and pragmatic", she said. But the Conservatives labelled it a "short-term and costly measure".
She added that Home Secretary John Reid had accepted the move was "necessary and pragmatic". Nineteen police forces have initially made about 240 cells available.
The jail population reached 79,714 on Friday - still 65 below the all-time high of two weeks ago. There were 47 prisoners being held in police cells as part of the operation on Friday.
But using police cells had become necessary because overcrowding had affected some parts of the country more than others. 'Operational judgement'
The jail population has now reached 79,714 - still 65 below the all-time high of two weeks ago.
But using police cells became necessary last weekend because jails in some parts of the country have been more badly affected than others.
We have only had to resort to it because of the government's utter failure David DavisShadow home secretary
The Home Office spokeswoman said there was potential for 520 police cells to be used during October and November if they were needed.The Home Office spokeswoman said there was potential for 520 police cells to be used during October and November if they were needed.
"The number of cells has been agreed with chief constables, who have used their operational judgment as to how many cells they can staff and make available.""The number of cells has been agreed with chief constables, who have used their operational judgment as to how many cells they can staff and make available."
The measures would help to "manage the short-term pressures on the prison population" and would be kept under close review, she said.The measures would help to "manage the short-term pressures on the prison population" and would be kept under close review, she said.
But shadow home secretary David Davis said the measures would only buy the government a few weeks and would "place even more burdens on our police".
"We have only had to resort to it because of the government's utter failure to address the chronic lack of capacity in our prisons."