BBC Breakfast: Sports reporter issues apology to Naga Munchetty BBC Breakfast hosts Sally Nugent and Ben Thompson paused the programme abruptly this week to issue a breaking news alert. Sally drew viewers’ attention to “emergency measures” being put into place on the programme, while huge capital letters spelled out the word BREAKING across the screen. It came as a sports segment drew to a close, with Sally switching to a sombre tone on Monday morning (August 19).
The breaking news turned out to be covering overcrowding in UK prisons, with Sally explaining to viewers: “Now, the government has activated emergency measures to ease prison overcrowding as more rioters are sentenced.” Ben chimed in: “Let’s talk to our political correspondent Henry Zeffman who joins us now. Now what exactly do these measures involve?” BBC Breakfast came to an abrupt halt (Image: BBC) Henry, appearing via video link, 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.
“That’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. "It’s been activated overnight in the north east, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancaster, Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.
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