Livid police chiefs declare they may ‘by no means comply with pausing any pointless arrests’ – as Authorities plan to resolve jail overcrowding backfires

Police chiefs refused to pause arrests final evening after a Authorities plan to resolve jail overcrowding backfired.

A significant row broke out amongst Britain’s most senior officers as Scotland Yard introduced that it could ‘by no means comply with pausing any essential arrests’.

The chairman of the Affiliation of Police and Crime Commissioners, or APCC, additionally revolted in opposition to the recommendation issued by the Nationwide Police Chiefs Council.

The NPCC instructed forces to think about pausing ‘non-priority arrests’ and to droop operations which will set off ‘massive numbers of arrests’ till there may be sufficient capability in prisons throughout England and Wales. It got here after ministers triggered emergency measures with out warning final week to maintain defendants in police cells as a result of jails are operating out of area.

Often called Operation Early Daybreak, the emergency measures plunged some magistrates’ courts into chaos, with bail hearings postponed on the final minute as conferences happened to find out the place areas could possibly be discovered for suspects remanded in custody.

Now the NPCC has pleaded with forces to reduce their arrests to keep away from police cells filling up.

The NPCC mentioned: ‘Consideration is to be given to pausing non-priority arrests and any deliberate operations the place massive numbers of arrests could happen to ease the strain throughout the prison justice system.

‘However public safety stays a precedence and a thought-about menace, hurt and threat evaluation is to be accomplished when contemplating any pause in police operations.’ However a number of police chiefs refused yesterday. Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was mentioned to be fuming concerning the recommendation.

Yesterday his deputy Dame Lynne Owens mentioned: ‘We’ll at all times put defending the general public first and can by no means comply with pausing any essential arrests.

‘We is not going to hesitate to hunt for suspects to be remanded in custody the place the grounds for which might be made out.’

APCC chairman Donna Jones additionally hit again saying: ‘The overcrowding in prisons is just not a problem for chief constables or Police and Crime Commissioners.

‘The job of the police is to maintain the general public secure – it’s what we pay them to do. They need to proceed to arrest suspects as ordinary in order that those that commit crimes and trigger hurt to others are taken off the streets. Managing the jail inhabitants is for the Ministry of Justice. The influence of not arresting suspected criminals can have penalties. It’s not a place I can assist.’

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chief Constable Scott Chilton was additionally defiant: ‘We proceed to be proactive in arresting those that are suspected of committing crimes, concentrating on prolific offenders and people who find themselves needed on warrants.

‘We’re arresting extra folks and bringing them into our custody centres, and this stays our method.’

Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove warned: ‘This has the potential to considerably undermine public confidence in policing and discourage victims from coming ahead.’

The jail inhabitants elevated by 5,200 within the 12 months to June 2023.

However Policing Minister Chris Philp instructed MPs there had been no delays to arrests and solely a ‘small quantity’ of delays to courtroom proceedings.

He mentioned the NPCC contingency plan can be dropped at the moment. ‘I’m delighted to substantiate, the contingencies referenced… didn’t materialise.’