Prison bosses make room for possible influx amid planned protests across England
The police have threatened to arrest hundreds of supporters of the banned group Palestine Action, who plan to protest in London this weekend. There are also at least eight planned demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that it has initiated 'capacity gold command' as it attempts to manage the use of individual prison cells, with jails across England and Wales 97.5% full.
Capacity gold command is initiated when the number of prisoners across the estate reaches critical levels. It allows an appointed gold commander to monitor every out-of-use cell, direct moves into and out of prisons and maximise the use of open prisons and home detention curfews.
Government sources said the justice department has re-examined the possibility of launching Operation Early Dawn, which would allow defendants to be held in police cells until prison beds became available and could mean their court dates are delayed or adjourned at short notice.
Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors' Association, said he is concerned about the impact on prisons of possible public order events after the riots in 2024 after the Southport murders.
He added: 'Any spike in the numbers of people remanded in custody will have an impact on prisons. HMPPS HQ is again operating 'capacity gold command' arrangements to direct governors to move prisoners to ensure capacity is available. Governors in reception prisons will be directed to move prisoners over the weekend in order to create space.
'This will mean sometimes moving prisoners long distances to prisons that have room to create it in those that don't. This is far from ideal in that resettling prisoners from prisons a long way from where they are going to live on release is difficult logistically and less likely to be successful.'
Sources said capacity gold command was activated in February 2023 and ended in September 2024, when the Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary and lord chancellor, initiated an early release scheme.
Because of overcrowding, a source said it was reactivated in March this year so that senior officials and ministers are informed about individual cell space.
A protest against the ban on Palestine Action will go ahead in London on Saturday, organisers have confirmed, despite the police saying they will carry out mass detentions.
Defend Our Juries, a pressure group campaigning to lift the ban on Palestine Action under terrorism laws, said on Tuesday that more than 500 people had committed to holding up signs reading 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action', as part of the protest.
The group said the event would go ahead as planned after the 'conditional commitment requirement' had been reached.
More than 200 people have been arrested in response to the proscription of the group last month. The location of Saturday's protest has not been made known.
The Metropolitan police made clear the force would arrest anyone breaking terrorism laws, as Downing Street urged people not to attend any protest.
The demonstration has been organised to protest against the decision by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, to ban the organisation last month after activists caused what police said was £7m of damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton.
Police are braced for further protests and disorder across the UK, as anti-migrant demonstrations continue outside hotels housing asylum-seekers.
At least four protests have been organised for the upcoming week in locations such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth, with tensions rising further after clashes over the weekend.
Far-right groups also plan to protest outside at least eight migrant hotels on Friday as part of a 'no asylum day' of action.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Capacity gold has been used for many months in the management of capacity pressure in the prison estate.
'The swift and coordinated response to last year's unrest shows the criminal justice system is prepared to act quickly if needed to maintain stability and keep the public safe.'
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The Guardian
10 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Thursday briefing: How the far right is being allowed to shape the immigration debate in the UK
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Telegraph
10 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Don't call rural voters Nimbys, Labour MPs tell Starmer
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BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
North East stalking victim pursued up mountain by obsessed ex
When Michelle met John Hall she thought he was the one, until she learned he was married. With a heavy heart, she ended the relationship little realising the relentless lengths he would go to stalk her, including following her up one of England's highest mountains. In September 2024 Michelle was hiking up Helvellyn in the Lake District with a walking group, when she noticed him. "It was a foggy day and we were walking up the mountain when out of the fog I see this man," she said. "It's him. I said to my friend 'it's him'."My legs went like jelly, I felt like I couldn't breathe." The relationship had begun in 2021 when they met at work and became close enjoying walks together and going out for meals. Michelle was not suspicious when he suggested they keep their relationship a secret from colleagues, as it was "something just for them". However, she was shattered when a colleague asked if she knew her new boyfriend was ended the affair, but Hall tried to get her to change her mind claiming he and his wife were like "brother and sister".Then a pattern of behaviour began when he moved in with Michelle, but would leave a week later and go back to his wife. After several months of upheaval, Michelle ended the relationship for good. What followed was an ongoing campaign of stalking that led to her quitting her job and living in a women's said she quit her flat after Hall would turn up during the night after bombarding her with texts and phone would throw stones at her window when she did not answer the door. Michelle says she feared for her life on several occasions and often thought: 'Is this the day he's going to do something?' Recalling being followed on her trip to the Lake District, she said: "He followed us for seven hours."When we got back to the car park he was sitting on the boot of his car."She said she had tried to stall him by going to a pub, but he was still there hours later. "We decided we'd have to leave so I got into my car and drove past him - he was staring at me as I drove past."Her friend rang her as she drove away and warned her that her stalker was driving behind her. She pulled into a petrol station, waited then resumed her journey only to discover Hall was driving in front of her. "Cars were overtaking him and he pulled into a lay-by then when I went past he pulled out behind me."I rang the police to report him again and they told me to drive to the police station." When Michelle called the police after being followed up the mountain she had not seen Hall for several months. He was arrested and remanded in custody for four weeks eventually pleading guilty to stalking. He was given a community order and restraining order at Newcastle Magistrates' Court weeks after the Lake District ordeal. As part of the order he was electronically tagged, however he managed to rip it off and sent Michelle a picture of it in his hand."When he was on remand I was so relieved but also felt so guilty and felt like I had to tell people he wasn't a bad guy even after everything he had done to me," Michelle says. But the torment continued. Hall would phone constantly from withheld numbers. He would watch her Tik Tok videos and message her on the app, she says. He was back in court within weeks and returned to custody."I felt so alone."She had been assigned a Paladin case worker a - national charity that supports victims of stalking - and stayed in the refuge about 25 miles from her home. In July 2025 Hall appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced to five and a half months in prison. After two days he was released on licence because of time spent on says she was "gutted" when the probation service rang to tell he breached the terms of the licence and was sent back to prison to serve the rest of his sentence. "Something has to be done to stop this type of behaviour from happening," Michelle said."All I want is peace." Minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, Jess Phillips, said her thoughts were with the victim and "all those affected by this deeply distressing case". "Stalking is a terrifying and insidious crime that robs victims of their freedom and safety," she said. "That's why we are taking decisive action to protect victims and ensure perpetrators face real and lasting consequences."She also said that there were plans to strengthen protection orders and stalking legislation was being reviewed so the police could "crack down on dangerous perpetrators and ensure more victims get the support they deserve"."These measures are part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade," she added. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
