JUDGES in England and Wales have been told to consider delaying trials of criminals over concerns about overcrowded prison conditions, Sky News reports, citing internal guidance it has seen.
If a prison sentence is considered a possible outcome of the legal process, the judge must consider rescheduling the trial for as short a time as possible, but no later than September 10, Sky News reported on Friday (23/8).
The directive was reportedly issued by Judge Green, the senior deputy magistrate for England and Wales, citing “the current challenges in our prisons.”
The report added that recent protests have worsened an already critical situation, with less than one percent of prison cell capacity being used for the past several years.
To address the crisis, the UK government is planning to reduce the sentences of some prisoners and free up some prison space. But that will not happen until September 10.
However, the directive does not apply to inmates who are considered a serious danger to society. A special program was also reportedly launched earlier this week that would allow criminals to be placed in cells at police stations until prison space becomes available.
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Some suspects will be released on bail pending their trial, while others will face stricter conditions.
Earlier in late July, mass protests erupted in many cities across the UK after a 17-year-old boy attacked children with a knife at a dance studio in Southport. Three children were killed, and several other children and two adults were taken to hospital in critical condition.
The protests escalated into clashes with police and riots after rumours spread that the attacker was a refugee. It was later revealed that the attacker was a British citizen of Rwandan descent.
More than 1,000 people were arrested as a result of the unrest, the National Police Chiefs’ Council told Sputnik. (Ant/Z-2)
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