Consultation outcome

Police powers: pre-charge bail

From:
Home Office
Published
5 February 2020
Last updated
6 September 2021 — See all updates
This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Police powers: pre-charge bail government response (accessible version)

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Police powers: pre-charge bail government response

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Police powers: pre-charge bail government response (Welsh version) (accessible version)

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Police powers: pre-charge bail government response (Welsh version)

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Police powers: pre-charge bail overview of the evidence (accessible version)

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Police powers: pre-charge bail overview of the evidence

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Police powers: pre-charge bail overview of the evidence (Welsh version) (accessible version)

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Police powers: pre-charge bail overview of the evidence (Welsh version)

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Pre-charge bail overview of the evidence, raw data files (accessible version)

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Pre-charge bail overview of the evidence, raw data files

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Detail of outcome

These documents set out the government’s response to the issues raised during the consultation, an evidence review of pre-charge bail, the impact of our proposed changes and details of the 844 responses we received.

The measures we propose to take forward include:

  • removing the statutory presumption to release without bail
  • adjusting the timescales and authorisation levels for pre-charge bail to better reflect the operational realities faced by investigating officers, whilst maintaining rigorous oversight of decisions to extend bail timelines
  • ensure that victims are a key part in the pre-charge bail process, that they are fully informed as the case progresses and are able to ask questions and provide views where appropriate
  • working with policing stakeholders to ensure there is appropriate guidance to operate the pre-charge bail system

Original consultation

Summary

Consultation on proposals for reviewing pre-charge bail legislation.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

On 5 November 2019 the government launched a review of pre-charge bail legislation to put victims’ safety first and support police investigations.

This public consultation exercise is a central part of the wider review. This paper sets out issues raised by stakeholders alongside a corresponding set of initial proposals on which views are sought.

Documents

Police powers: pre-charge bail government consultation (accessible version)

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Police powers: pre-charge bail government consultation

PDF, 381 KB, 30 pages

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Impact assessment (accessible version)

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Impact assessment

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Executive summary: Welsh (accessible version)

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Executive summary: Welsh

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Privacy information notice (accessible version)

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Privacy information notice

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Updates to this page

Published 5 February 2020
Last updated 6 September 2021 + show all updates

  1. Accessible HTML versions of 'Police powers: pre-charge bail government response' in English and Welsh, 'Police powers: pre-charge bail overview of the evidence (Welsh version)', 'Pre-charge bail overview of the evidence, raw data files', 'Police powers: pre-charge bail government consultation', 'Impact assessment', 'Executive summary: Welsh' and 'Privacy information notice' added.

  2. Welsh version of the overview of the evidence published.

  3. Added Welsh version of the PCB response document.

  4. Accessible version of 'an overview of the evidence' published.

  5. Added government response to the consultation, overview of the evidence and raw data files.

  6. Closing date extended to 29 May.

  7. First published.

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