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| Prison bosses make room for possible influx before planned protests across England | Prison bosses make room for possible influx before planned protests across England |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Exclusive: Possible arrests at protests against Palestine Action ban and asylum hotels likely to stretch prisons | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 had re-examined the possibility of launching Operation Early Dawn, which would allow defendants to be held in police cells until prison beds become available and could mean their court dates were delayed or adjourned at short notice. | Government sources said the justice department had re-examined the possibility of launching Operation Early Dawn, which would allow defendants to be held in police cells until prison beds become available and could mean their court dates were delayed or adjourned at short notice. |
| Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors’ Association, said he was concerned about the impact on prisons of possible public order events after the riots in 2024 after the Southport murders. | Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors’ Association, said he was concerned about the impact on prisons of possible public order events after the riots in 2024 after the Southport murders. |
| He said: “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. | He said: “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.” | “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 Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary and lord chancellor, initiated an early release scheme. | Sources said capacity gold command was activated in February 2023 and ended in September 2024, when 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 were informed about individual cell space. | Because of overcrowding, a source said it was reactivated in March this year so that senior officials and ministers were informed about individual cell space. |
| Saturday’s protest against the ban on Palestine Action will go ahead, organisers have said, despite the police saying they will carry out mass detentions. There is an unconnected Palestine solidarity march also taking place on Saturday. | |
| 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 at its protest 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. | The group said the event would go ahead as planned after the “conditional commitment requirement” had been reached. |
| Tim Crosland, a spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, defended plans to include Moazzam Begg, a former Guantánamo Bay detainee and director of the advocacy group Cage, in a press conference on Wednesday. | Tim Crosland, a spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, defended plans to include Moazzam Begg, a former Guantánamo Bay detainee and director of the advocacy group Cage, in a press conference on Wednesday. |
| Crosland said he could see why some people who supported the protest would have difficulty with a platform being shared with Cage, but added: “At this moment it feels it is so important to build relations with Muslim communities.” | Crosland said he could see why some people who supported the protest would have difficulty with a platform being shared with Cage, but added: “At this moment it feels it is so important to build relations with Muslim communities.” |
| He said: “Moazzam has never been convicted of anything. I do personally have a lot of admiration for him. I think he went through horrific things in Guantánamo, as everyone in Guantánamo did. | He said: “Moazzam has never been convicted of anything. I do personally have a lot of admiration for him. I think he went through horrific things in Guantánamo, as everyone in Guantánamo did. |
| “He’s come out the other side such a strong advocate for justice and is able to put the terrorism laws in their wider perspective and speak to some of the damage they have done to communities.” | “He’s come out the other side such a strong advocate for justice and is able to put the terrorism laws in their wider perspective and speak to some of the damage they have done to communities.” |
| Cage has suggested in the past that Mohammed Emwazi, believed to be the Islamic State killer known as “Jihadi John”, had been radicalised in part by Britain’s intelligence services. | Cage has suggested in the past that Mohammed Emwazi, believed to be the Islamic State killer known as “Jihadi John”, had been radicalised in part by Britain’s intelligence services. |
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| Also appearing at the press conference will be Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, who was given permission last month by a judge to bring a legal challenge to the home secretary’s decision to ban the group. | Also appearing at the press conference will be Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, who was given permission last month by a judge to bring a legal challenge to the home secretary’s decision to ban the group. |
| 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. | 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 they would arrest anyone breaking terrorism laws, as Downing Street urged people not to attend any protest. | The Metropolitan police made clear they 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. | 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 also 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 next week in locations such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth, with tensions rising further after clashes over the weekend. | Police are also 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 next 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. | 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.” | 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.” |