Britain takes emergency action to prevent prisons in northern England from becoming overcrowded

LONDON — Britain has taken emergency action to prevent prisons from becoming overcrowded as hundreds of people are sentenced in connection with the civil unrest that gripped the country earlier this month.

Under the measures, defendants in northern England will be held in police cells while awaiting early court appearances, and they will be summoned to court only when there are prison spaces available for them. Similar measures were temporarily implemented in May by the previous Conservative-led government.

The recent civil disorder has heaped pressure on prisons in England and Wales, which were already running out of room amid budget constraints, a growing population and tougher sentencing guidelines.

“We inherited a justice system in crisis and exposed to shocks,” Prisons Minister James Timpson said in a statement. “As a result, we have been forced into making difficult but necessary decisions to keep it operating.”

The new Labour government, which took office after a landslide victory in last month’s general election, has outlined its own plans to relieve prison overcrowding, clearing the way for the early release of thousands of prisoners to ensure the beleaguered system continues to function. The temporary fix includes reducing the portion of their sentences prisoners must serve before they are eligible for release.