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Management of the Prison Estate
18 March 2025
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Ministry of Justice
At a Glance
Issue Summary
The minister is addressing the ongoing prison capacity crisis and the high occupancy rates within the UK's adult male estate.
Action Requested
The minister has temporarily reactivated Operation Safeguard to better manage prisoner intake and will open a new 1,500-capacity prison in North Yorkshire. The use of Operation Safeguard will be reviewed regularly and deactivated as soon as capacity issues are resolved.
Key Facts
- The adult male estate is operating at more than 99% occupancy with only 824 places remaining.
- On the night of 10 March, there were 124 no-space lockouts, a record high during business-as-usual operations.
- A new 458-capacity houseblock at HMP Rye Hill has just been opened.
- Operation Safeguard will be activated to manage temporary pressures on the prison estate and minimize police cell usage.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy