The Government is preparing additional spaces in prisons to house rioters in light of violent demonstrations across the UK.

HMP Stocken in the East Midlands and HMP Cookham Wood in Kent are currently be readied to take in 600 people convicted of crimes related to the current public disorder.

Prison administrators are also considering transferring some current inmates out of the areas where the riots have broken out, in order to create space for newly charged rioters.

Justice Minister Heidi Alexander added that courts are not currently sitting out of hours but that option is available in some areas depending on requests - during the 2011 London riots, court judges were requested to work overnight.

Prisons prepare to house SIX HUNDRED rioters as Starmer vows tough crackdownPA

However, both the Magistrates' Association and the Criminal Bar Association have stated that they would rather this was not the case, pointing to a criminal justice system already at "maximum capacity".

Both HMP Stocken and HMP Cookham Wood were already being prepared to increase their intakes, though these plans have been accelerated in light of recent violence across the UK.

Speaking to the BBC, Alexander said: "We will make sure that anyone who is given a custodial sentence as a result of the riots and disorder, there will be a prison place waiting for them.

"What we have been able to do in the last week since the problems have arisen is that we have been able to bring forward some additional prison places that we had been due to bring on stream later in the month. There are 567 additional prison places."

Protestors stand off with police in Southport Getty

Sunderland was one of the cities hardest hit by the riotsGetty

Following the fatal stabbings of three young girls in Southport last week, violent unrest has broken out across the UK led by the far-right which has seen more than 420 people arrested.

Commenting on the scenes of bedlam across Britain, the Prime Minister said: "Be in no doubt, those that have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law.

"The police will be making arrests. Individuals will be held on remand, charges will follow and convictions will follow.

"I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves.

"This is not a protest, it is organised, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online."