The Home Secretary has this week announced a package of reforms to the police use of pre charge bail, including setting a limit that police bail will not last longer than 28 days, with extensions permissible only under specific circumstances, and court intervention necessary for any extension beyond 3 months.
The moves come following growing concern as to the length of time suspects are left on police bail with onerous conditions before either being charged or released with no further action.
New proposals
Under the new system, the police would make the initial decision to release a suspect on bail. That decision would be reviewed by a Superintendent after 28 days, at which point they could authorise further bail, up to a total of three months, in exceptional circumstances. Any application to extend pre-charge bail beyond three months would have to be approved by a magistrate.
Other measures
This is just one of a range of measures the Home Office proposes to take forward following a recent public consultation. Other measures include a presumption to release without bail, with bail only being imposed when it is both necessary and proportionate. These reforms will result in the greatest reform of police bail legislation since it was passed 30 years ago.
Home Secretary Theresa May said:
“I have been clear that it is simply not acceptable for individuals to spend months and in some cases years on pre-charge bail, with no system of review, only for charges never to be brought against them.
“I will bring forward legislation to set a clear 28-day limit for pre-charge bail in all but the most complex cases and introduce regular scrutiny from the courts for any application to extend pre-charge bail beyond three months.
“These measures, alongside a new presumption to release without bail at all, will drive down the inappropriate use of pre-charge bail and ensure that decisions to release suspects with pre-charge bail conditions are taken only where it is necessary or proportionate.
“The changes that do not require legislation, such as the production of guidance and the collection of data, will be taken forward straight away.”
