It’s finally happened. Our prisons are almost full. Last night the Times reported that ‘Lord Justice Edis, the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, has ordered that sentencing of convicted criminals who are currently on bail should be delayed from Monday’. Prisons in England and Wales are now unable to find cell space for every criminal that judges believe should be jailed.
This means that next week people convicted of very serious crimes, including historic sex offences, may be found guilty then sent home on bail. Beyond the obvious public protection concerns this delay to justice will further traumatise victims, and reduce confidence in the whole system.
Anyone could have predicted this crisis. Last November, Damien Hinds, the prisons minister, activated Operation Safeguard – which makes police cells available to house prisoners for a maximum of one night if no prison cell is available. It is still in use.
Our courts system is crumbling
In March this year judges were urged
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