The Government could trigger an emergency plan to avoid prison overcrowding "at some point next week" as rioters are sentenced, according to the Prison Officers' Association.It followed reports in The Observer that the Government could be about to trigger Operation Early Dawn.The long-standing contingency measure allows defendants to be held in police cells until prison beds become available, but could mean their court dates are delayed or adjourned at short notice.

The Government could trigger an emergency plan to avoid prison overcrowding "at some point next week" as rioters are sentenced, according to the Prison Officers' Association.It followed reports in The Observer that the Government could be about to trigger Operation Early Dawn.The long-standing contingency measure allows defendants to be held in police cells until prison beds become available, but could mean their court dates are delayed or adjourned at short notice.