Exclusive: possible arrests at protests against Palestine Action ban and asylum hotels likely to stretch prisons
Prison bosses will make room for a possible influx of arrested demonstrators this weekend amid concerns that some jails are close to full, the head of the national governors’ body has revealed.
Police have threatened to make hundreds of arrests if a planned protest in London this weekend over the proscription of Palestine Action goes ahead. There are also at least eight planned demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed it had initiated “capacity gold command” as it attempts to manage the use of 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.
