A licence to intimidate ... police fear for witnesses in bail shake-up

POLICE chiefs and judges say criminals are being left free to intimidate victims and witnesses after Ministers relaxed rules on bail.

Officials are looking at the effects on vulnerable people of the less stringent system, which means most suspects are let loose without any conditions after being arrested.

It is just one consequence of the Government’s controversial move last year to limit police bail to 28 days in most cases, which was fiercely opposed by chief constables.

The Mail on Sunday can also reveal that the new law has meant:

Far more defendants are failing to attend court, after being charged by post rather than in a police station;

A new, simpler version of the charging letter is being drafted – because many suspects did not understand the legal language used;

Even homeless suspects are being charged by post – and never receive the letters;

Cases are taking so long to get to court that witnesses forget key parts of their evidence.

A report presented to chief constables and seen by this newspaper warned: ‘Significant concerns have been highlighted in relation to potential “unintended consequences” of the legislative change and, more specifically, whether pre-charge bail is being used to protect vulnerable victims and witnesses.’

It recommended that the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing carry out ‘further research to examine and understand the impact of the legislation on vulnerable victims and witnesses’.

Restrictions on police bail were introduced in April last year to end the scandal of suspects – including innocent celebrities such as radio presenter Paul Gambaccini – being left in limbo for years while detectives carried out ‘fishing expeditions’ for complainants to come forward.

Under the new system, police can bail suspects for only 28 days unless a judge grants an extension, so almost all those arrested are simply ‘released under investigation’ with no conditions on whom they can contact or where they can go.

NPCC figures show that in the past year, the number of suspects released on bail has dropped by a massive 87 per cent.

Separately, HM Courts & Tribunal Service has found that the proportion of cases where suspects were charged by letter – known as postal requisition – has increased to 30 per cent in the past year, and the number of first court hearings where the defendant failed to attend has increased from 14 per cent to 17 per cent.

Last year, Judge Rhys Rowlands raised concerns t hat a t eacher accused of child-sex offences was released under investigation with no restrictions on his behaviour – then simply sent a letter telling him to attend magistrates’ court.

He said: ‘Something is going to go horribly wrong one of these days if cases are approached this way.’

‘Something is going to go horribly wrong’