Presenter 'pauses' BBC Breakfast to share 'emergency measures'

BBC Breakfast took an unexpected turn on Monday morning when presenters Sally Nugent and Ben Thompson cut off their regular programming with an urgent news update.

Following the end of a sports segment, Sally drew viewers' attention to "emergency measures" being actioned within the show, while bold 'BREAKING' graphics filled the screen, as detailed by the Express. Moving into more serious reporting, she alerted the audience with the words: "Now, the government has activated emergency measures to ease prison overcrowding as more rioters are sentenced."

Read more: Prisons in Yorkshire are full due to riot thugs - this is what will happen to criminals now

Ben quickly chimed in, saying: "Let's talk to our political correspondent Henry Zeffman who joins us now. Now what exactly do these measures involve? "

Through a live video feed, Henry explained: "Practically, what this means is that some people who are awaiting trial in a police cell will be kept in a police cell until prison space is available." He went on to describe the measures as highly unusual and indicated urgency, stating: "It's highly unusual.

"It's an emergency measure, but it's an emergency measure that the government this morning is saying is necessary in parts of the country because prisons are so overcrowded. This action has been taken overnight in areas including the north east, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancaster, Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire."

Furthermore, Henry indicated deeper systemic issues, citing Prisons Minister Lord Timpson's remarks: "We inherited a justice system in crisis and exposed to shocks. As a result we have been forced into making difficult but necessary decisions to keep it operating."

Henry clarified that it will be a "short-term measure" as Ben questioned him: "Is there a danger here that the emergency measure puts strain on the rest of the system, that effectively it grinds to a halt if people can't be processed in the way they would normally be processed? ".

Henry said: "That's the fear, and I think potentially that's why the government will have been reluctant to make this decision. They are trying to reassure people today that that is not something that's going to happen, that the system won't be gummed up further back the chain."

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