Operation Safeguard

Operation Safeguard is a contingency plan to deal with prison overcrowding in the United Kingdom; it involves using cells at police stations as accommodation for prisoners when the number of cells in prisons becomes critically low.^[1] On 9 October 2006, the Home Secretary John Reid announced the implementation of Operation Safeguard as the prison population had reached 79,843 leaving only 125 spaces.^[2]

The policy is supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers, it outlined a list of criteria for prisoners who should not be held in police station cells under Safeguard, including among others: women, juveniles and those with mental health problems or those involved in a Crown Court trial.

Alternatives to Operation Safeguard

The government has considered several alternatives to Safeguard, including repatriating foreign prisoners to their home country, with a financial incentive.^[3] Other ways of reducing the prison population include:

• Early executive release
• Deportation of foreign prisoners
• Use of a prison ship

The Lord Chief Justice, Britain's most senior judge, Lord Phillips has suggested a greater use of community sentences to reduce the pressure on prisons. ^[4]

See also

• United Kingdom prison population
• Prison
• Prison reform
• List of prisons in the United Kingdom
• Prison categories (UK)
• Prison Officers' Association

References

1. ^ Metropolitan Police Authority, Operation Safeguard, 3 Mar 2006, (accessed 10 Oct 2006)
2. ^ BBC News Website, Cells plan to ease prisons crisis, 9 Oct 2006, (accessed 10 Oct 2006)
3. ^ BBC News Wesbsite, Tackling UK's overcrowded prisons 5 Oct 2006, (accessed 10 Oct 2006
4. ^ BBC News Wesbsite, Top judge calls for less jailing, 8 Oct 2006, (accessed 10 Oct 2006)

External links

• UK Government: Home Office
• UK Government: Prison Service
• Prison Officers' Association