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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Inmates arrive in police cells | Inmates arrive in police cells |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A plan to ease the overcrowding crisis in English and Welsh jails by moving convicted prisoners into police cells has come into force. | A plan to ease the overcrowding crisis in English and Welsh jails by moving convicted prisoners into police cells has come into force. |
| The Home Office said 47 inmates were being housed in police cells under Operation Safeguard. | |
| Home Secretary John Reid accepted the move was "necessary and pragmatic". But the Conservatives labelled it a "short-term and costly measure". | Home Secretary John Reid accepted the move was "necessary and pragmatic". But the Conservatives labelled it a "short-term and costly measure". |
| Nineteen police forces have made about 240 cells available. | Nineteen police forces have made about 240 cells available. |
| 'Operational judgement' | 'Operational judgement' |
| The jail population has reached 79,714 - 65 below the all-time high of two weeks ago. | The jail population has reached 79,714 - 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. | 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 | 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. |
| 'Desperate' act | 'Desperate' act |
| 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". | 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." | "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." |
| Operation Safeguard was last used in 2002, when 275 prisoners were placed in police cells as a result of an overcrowding crisis. | Operation Safeguard was last used in 2002, when 275 prisoners were placed in police cells as a result of an overcrowding crisis. |
| By then, the number of people imprisoned in England and Wales had reached 72,000. | By then, the number of people imprisoned in England and Wales had reached 72,000. |
| The emergency measure can be used under The Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act of 1980, which enables prisoners - sent to prison by the courts - to be held by police if there is no room for them to enter the prison system. | The emergency measure can be used under The Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act of 1980, which enables prisoners - sent to prison by the courts - to be held by police if there is no room for them to enter the prison system. |
| Using police cells to warehouse prisoners is a desperate measure with no pretence at decency or rehabilitation Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon | Using police cells to warehouse prisoners is a desperate measure with no pretence at decency or rehabilitation Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon |
| The move can only be activated by the Home Office - through the director general of the Prison Service. | The move can only be activated by the Home Office - through the director general of the Prison Service. |
| Campaign group the Prison Reform Trust was also critical of the measures, accusing the home secretary of desperation. | Campaign group the Prison Reform Trust was also critical of the measures, accusing the home secretary of desperation. |
| Juliet Lyon, the charity's director, said: "Police stations are generally not equipped for visits, exercise or association. | Juliet Lyon, the charity's director, said: "Police stations are generally not equipped for visits, exercise or association. |
| 'Desperate measure' | 'Desperate measure' |
| "Using police cells to warehouse prisoners is a desperate measure with no pretence at decency or rehabilitation." | "Using police cells to warehouse prisoners is a desperate measure with no pretence at decency or rehabilitation." |
| She said the trust was worried about the risks police officers faced in "trying to look after very vulnerable people with no space or resources to do so". | She said the trust was worried about the risks police officers faced in "trying to look after very vulnerable people with no space or resources to do so". |
| Under the system police cells are used mainly to contain adult male prisoners who have been remanded into custody to appear in court. | Under the system police cells are used mainly to contain adult male prisoners who have been remanded into custody to appear in court. |
| The most serious offenders (category A); those at risk of self-harm or escaping; women inmates; those under 18; people on trial at a crown court and anyone needing medical care are thought to be unlikely to be housed in police cells. | The most serious offenders (category A); those at risk of self-harm or escaping; women inmates; those under 18; people on trial at a crown court and anyone needing medical care are thought to be unlikely to be housed in police cells. |
| Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "Prison cells are enormously expensive, and looking after prisoners will be a huge distraction for the police." | Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "Prison cells are enormously expensive, and looking after prisoners will be a huge distraction for the police." |