Lock them up: Scotland Yard hits back at edict for police to detain fewer suspects

Ministers were facing a furious backlash on Wednesday from Scotland Yard over calls to arrest fewer people because of a lack of prison space as Sir Mark Rowley told his officers to carry on detaining every suspect possible.

The Met Commissioner issued his edict because of concern that attempts to tell police to hold back on arrests risks undermining public confidence and threaten the operational independence of forces.

The clash follows a letter sent by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, acting in response to government concerns about the prisons crisis which has left jails running out of space, asking for “not priority” arrests to be delayed.

But Sir Mark’s deputy, Dame Lynne Owens, made clear that the Met will not be avoiding arrests in a blunt statement making clear Scotland Yard’s anger at the suggestion.

She said that would “never agree to pausing necessary arrests” and would also “not hesitate” to ask for suspects to be remanded in custody when necessary to protect the public and prevent reoffending.

“The Met participated in the National Police Chiefs’ Council meeting last week where Operation Early Dawn and other emergency measure were discussed along with how the police could support Government to ease prison pressures,” she said, referring to the meeting last week at which the arrest pause was discussed.

“The Met asserted at this meeting and we repeat again today that we will always put protecting the public first and will never agree to pausing any necessary arrests.

“We will not hesitate to seek for suspects to be remanded in custody where the grounds for that are made out.

“We continue to work with the Government and other police services to ensure the safety of the public.”