Police Chief says Bail changes are failing

Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has compared the revised bail rules as a "road to hell paved with good intentions". The changes restrict the period of bail to 28 days in order to stop the previous situation where individuals were being put on bail for "years".

 

He has suggested that an urgent shake-up is required. 

 

The revised procedures gave the police the power to release suspects under investigation without any restrictions, unlike bail. However critics say this led to victims and the public being put in danger, with police forces seemingly releasing suspects on bail at a much lesser rate.

 

Amazingly Nottingham police recorded that bail numbers fell from 7,932 in 2016-17 to 562 in 2017-18. Thames Valley police recorded a drop from 13,768 to 379.

 

Sir Ian commented that, "many of the 600,000 cases of domestic violence reported annually are complex and incapable of resolution within 28 days because of the time needed for forensic evidence and because of the workload".

 

He further suggested, "Without formal bail, conditions on suspects such as not contacting the alleged victim, cannot be enforced. Urgent revision of this law is now needed after which the police service will then be better able to protect victims of such really unpleasant personal crimes of violence. This is a case of the road to Hell being paved with good intentions."

 

He suggested one option would be to extend bail to 56 days for offences such as domestic abuse, stalking and certain sex offences.

 

The National Police Chiefs' Council is also pressing for changes. "They were a simplistic solution to a complex problem and we are beginning to understand some of the unintended consequences," said Cheshire Chief Constable Darren Martland. 

 

Sir Ian was backed by John Apter, of the Police Federation, who said: "There needs to be an urgent review of this legislation and appropriate changes made." In response a Home Office spokesman said: "The Government is listening to the concerns and will consider further action."

 

E&K Solicitors

Rusholme