Prisoners will soon be temporarily held in police cells as part of emergency measures to address the growing overcrowding in the UK’s prisons, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed.
The plan, dubbed Operation Safeguard, is activated when prisons are nearing full capacity, and it aims to ease pressure on the system by utilising available space in police stations. The government has stated that 200 police cells will be freed up under the operation, which is expected to last for two months but could be extended depending on the prison population.
This move comes just ahead of the opening of a new prison near York, HMP Millsike, which will provide 1,500 additional spaces. The government hopes this new facility will help alleviate some of the strain on the criminal justice system.
While the system is operating near full capacity, the MoJ has stated that there is still some available space. However, recent figures show the prison population has reached a six-month high, with 87,556 people currently in custody. The male prison estate, in particular, is operating at over 99% occupancy.
Operation Safeguard is not a new initiative—previously, it was activated in May 2024 and February 2023 when the demand for prison space was overwhelming.
In a statement, the MoJ acknowledged the difficulties facing the system, noting that the government had “inherited a prison system in crisis.” The spokesperson added that these temporary measures are designed to provide “temporary relief” while the government works on a long-term solution, including plans to build 14,000 new prison places and reform the sentencing structure.
