{"metric":"prison_operational_capacity","title":"Prison useable operational capacity","topic":"justice","unit":"places","measure_type":"count","geography":"K04000001","comparison_method":"previous_period","latest":{"period_start":"2026-08-24","period_end":"2026-08-30","period_label":"Week beginning 24 August 2026","value":88937,"status":"final","vintage":"2026-08-24"},"comparison":{"period_label":"Week beginning 17 August 2026","value":88921,"vintage":"2026-08-17"},"source":{"publisher":"Ministry of Justice","publication":"Prison population: weekly estate figures","landing_url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-population-weekly-estate-figures-2026","sheet":"Data","table":"Population and Capacity Briefing","row":"Useable Operational Capacity","column":"Total","raw_value":"88937","file_url":"","file_sha256":"54ebb2865d8e1853bcd70a16b7f0ad62c17b043881b65c90b6574608a78957c3","release_date":"2026-08-24","release_label":"Week of 24 August 2026"},"definition":"The total number of prisoners that prisons in England and Wales could hold on the Monday named in the weekly bulletin, allowing for control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime.","does_not_measure":"Certified normal accommodation (the uncrowded capacity), cells out of use for repair, or places in immigration removal centres.","links":{"page":"/justice/prison-operational-capacity","series":"/api/metrics/prison_operational_capacity/series","vintages":"/api/metrics/prison_operational_capacity/vintages"}}