Police bail to be renewed as suspects face tight scrutiny

POLICE bail for suspects is to be revived by Priti Patel, reversing reforms under Theresa May that led to violent and sexual offenders being released into the community without restrictions.

The Home Secretary is to remove the presumption against police bail, which places restrictions on suspects, and plans to treble the time they can be bailed from 28 to up to 90 days.

Police officers will be expected to use bail in cases where it is “necessary and proportionate” including where there are risks to victims, witnesses and the public and where it could prevent reoffending.

The proposals, which will be subject to consultation, will significantly scale back use of “release under investigation”, first proposed by Mrs May as home secretary, then introduced by Amber Rudd.

Police, victims groups and lawyers have expressed concerns that Mrs May’s changes in 2017 led to thousands of crime suspects being released by police without any restrictions, putting victims and the public in danger.

Figures released under Freedom of Information laws showed the number of suspected offenders released while still under investigation rose from 6,464 in 2016 to 97,473 last summer.

Last August, a coroner urged the Government to act after Alan Martin, 53, bludgeoned his estranged wife, Kay, 49, to death with a hammer after police released him under investigation when he had been questioned on suspicion of raping and assaulting her.

Ms Patel wants those who continue to be released while under investigation to be subject to tougher scrutiny.