Male Prisons in England and Wales Near Capacity with Only 100 Spaces Left

Authorities implement emergency measures to manage the crisis as arrests surge over the bank holiday weekend.

The Ministry of Justice has activated Operation Early Dawn, holding defendants in police cells until prison spaces free up.
Officials are confident they can avoid further emergency measures, despite the surge in arrests, including 330 at the Notting Hill Carnival.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticizes the previous government's handling of the prison system, promising long-term solutions.
An early release scheme starting in September aims to reduce the prison population by freeing inmates 40% into their sentences.
Operation Brinker, a more severe contingency plan, remains on standby but has not yet been activated.