Prisons so full... use police cells

Emergency plan in place to deal with the rioters

- DAVE BURKE

MINISTERS were yesterday forced to trigger an emergency operation to prevent disaster in overcrowded prisons.

The government activated the controversial Operation Early Dawn to deal with increased pressure as hundreds of thugs are jailed for their part in recent riots.

It means that defendants in parts of Northern England can be held in police cells and not go to court until a jail bed is available.

More than 1,000 people have been arrested after widespread violence broke out last month.