POLICE CHIEFS IN UK TOLD TO MAKE FEWER ARRESTS – Prisons are becoming overcrowded and the government wants to save space  

Chief constables have been advised to suspend operations at events that may trigger a “large number of arrests” and to pause “non-priority arrests” in a bid to save space in prisons.

The recommendations were made in an internal document drawn up by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

The memo to police chiefs read: “Consideration is to be given to pausing non-priority arrests and any planned operations where large numbers of arrests may take place to ease the pressure within the criminal justice system.

“Notwithstanding public protection remains a priority and a considered threat, harm and risk assessment is to be completed when considering any pause in police operations.”

The document did not specify the type of offences for which arrests should be paused. In a separate internal letter from the NPCC to chief constables, it warned that the government’s emergency package of measures “risks public safety” and may restrict officers’ ability to respond to urgent calls.