Fresh UK prisons crisis as riots lead to fears of overcrowding

Exclusive: emergency plan set to be introduced that could see alleged criminals released and court cases delayed

The prison system in England is set to be thrown into a fresh crisis this week with scores of alleged criminals to be released on bail rather than taken to their court hearings.

The jailing of hundreds of rioters has pushed prisons towards full capacity forcing HM Prisons and Probation Service to prepare Operation Early Dawn, a contingency plan that prevents inmates being taken from police cells to courts, unless a prison place is available.