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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Holly Bancroft

Overflowing prisons trigger emergency measure to house inmates in police cells

Thousands of outstanding prison spaces are expected to be delivered five years late - (Getty/The Independent)

Ministers have been forced to trigger an emergency measure to house prisoners in police cells as jails run out of space.

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood has enacted Operation Safeguard, which allows the prison service to hold prisoners overnight in police cells.

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