Police are being instructed to consider making fewer arrests because of the lack of space in prisons. A letter from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) circulated last week urges chief constables to think about "pausing" so-called "non-priority arrests". It also suggests halting planned operations where a large number of arrests could take place to "ease the pressure within the criminal justice system". It comes as court cases are being delayed and some prisoners are being released early due to overcrowding in prisons.
