Changes to bail are failing, says ex-police chief

AN URGENT shake-up of police bail is required, according to a former Metropolitan Police commissioner who compared the new system to a “road to Hell paved with good intentions”.

Sir Ian Blair said changes in 2017 to restrict bail to 28 days were designed to stop “unacceptable” cases of suspects being on bail for years.

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

Nottinghamshire police bail numbers fell from 7,932 in 2016-17 to 562 in 2017-18, while Thames Valley’s instances fell from 13,768 to 379. Sir Ian said “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.

“Without formal bail, conditions on suspects such as not contacting the alleged victim, cannot be enforced,” he said. “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.” One option would be to extend bail to 56 days for offences such as domestic abuse, stalking and some sex offences, he added.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council is 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. “We’re concerned a reduction in bail could mean missed opportunities to protect vulnerable people and put conditions on violent offenders that could prevent reoffending.”

He 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.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government is listening to the concerns and will consider further action.”