How long can bail be extended?

Asked by: Miss Lisette Larkin  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (11 votes)

28 days maximum for standard criminal cases
There are still provisions for the police to release suspects with bail conditions. The important difference is that the maximum period is 28 days unless extended by a “senior officer” of the rank of superintendent or above.

How long can you be on bail for?

Bail can be either unconditional or conditional, the latter being that certain restrictions and conditions are put on defendants such as not being able to contact a complainant or go to a certain location. The initial bail period is 28 days but can be extended up to 3 months by a Superintendent.

Can you be on bail for years?

Furthermore, concerns have been raised that despite there being stringent time limits upon investigations ongoing whilst a person is in detention, there are no time limits on how long a person can be kept on police bail.

Can 28 day bail be extended?

At the end of the 28-day period, unless the case has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision to be made, police bail can only be extended where a senior officer has reasonable grounds for believing: ... the continued imposition of bail is necessary and proportionate.

Can bail be lifted?

You can also be released on bail after you have been charged (post-charge bail) which means you are released from police custody until your court hearing. If there are conditions on your bail, you will likely be forbidden from doing certain things or going to certain places.

POLICE BAIL or RELEASED UNDER INVESTIGATION - Two top criminal lawyers answer viewers questions

33 related questions found

Can bail be dropped?

Your case can be dropped while you're on bail. If you are bailed without charge, called 'pre-charge bail' this means that you will have to appear at a police station at a later date. This is so that the police can look over the evidence and decide whether or not to charge you.

Does bail mean you have been charged?

Being on bail means that you have been arrested or charged with a crime and can leave the police station or court, but you must return / go to court on a specific day at a specific time. If you do not attend court you can be arrested.

How long can the police keep you released under investigation?

If an individual is released on pre-charge bail, the police have an initial time limit of 28 days to continue their investigation. However, this can be extended to three months by a senior police officer.

How many times can you apply for bail?

Re-Applying For Bail

You have two chances to apply for bail at the magistrates court, or if there is a change in your circumstances. If this fails, you can apply for bail again at the crown court, known as 'judge in chambers. ' You can also go to the High Court but this is rare.

How long can police keep my phone?

If the police do find evidence on your phone, they will likely keep it until the conclusion of any trial that may take place – this can take months or even years depending on the circumstances.

When can police refuse bail?

The grounds for refusing bail are set out in Schedule 1 to the Bail Act 1976. A person may be denied bail if there are substantial grounds for believing that any of the exceptions in Schedule 1 of the Bail Act 1976 are made out.

What happens if bail conditions are broken?

Breaking bail conditions is not a crime itself but you can be arrested. ... Many people choose to ignore bail conditions, especially in cases of pre-charge bail. If you are arrested for breaking pre-charge bail, the police must do one of two things: Release you on bail again with the same conditions.

What are normal bail conditions?

The standard conditions of any Bail Order state that an accused person must: Turn up at court on each date the case is assigned to call. Not interfere with any witness or obstruct proper conduct of the case. Not commit any further offence while subject to the bail order.

What are the conditions of bail?

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS OF THE BAIL?
  • If before conviction, that the defendant shall answer the complaint or information in the court in which it is filed or to which it may be transferred for trial.
  • After conviction, that he will surrender himself in execution of the judgment that the appellate court may render.

What happens when you go back to the police station after bail?

I HAVE BEEN BAILED TO RETURN TO THE POLICE STATION

This police bail will usually involve the imposition of bail conditions. If you fail to return to the Police Station on the bail date you will commit a criminal offence which can be punishable by imprisonment.

How long can a person be released under investigation UK?

The issue. Release under investigation (RUI) is used by the police instead of bail – but unlike pre-charge bail it has no time limits or conditions. This can leave the accused and alleged victims in limbo with no updates on their case for an unlimited time.

How long can you be under investigation by police UK?

There is no general time limit for how long a police investigation can stay open in England and Wales. For summary only offences, which are heard in the Magistrates' Court, the case must be heard within twelve months of the crime.

What happens after bail is granted?

If a defendant is granted bail it means they are allowed back into the public while they await trial or further police investigations, instead of being remanded in custody (ie, locked up). ... This may be granted in the police station after interview or the court after the preliminary hearing.

What happens when on bail?

Bail often means a defendant enters into a recognisance (a bond between them and the court) to pay money if they break the conditions of bail. ... If a person is charged and released by the police on bail, the first court appearance must be within 28 days from the date of the charge.

What do released on bail mean?

Bail is release from court or police custody on the condition that you will appear in court when next required. Bail is normally granted on conditions which must be reasonable.

Can the CPS charge without evidence?

The standard of evidence needed in order for the CPS or police to make a charging decision is set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The prosecutor must be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against each suspect on each charge.

How many times can you be bailed without being charged?

There is no limit to the number of times a person can be bailed without charge. The police are under an obligation to conduct investigations “diligently and efficiently” – those two obligations are at odds with one another, which means that the new time limit on bail has caused the police some real problems.

On what grounds can bail be refused?

An indicative list of factors to be considered while granting or refusing an application for bail is as follows: whether there is any prima facie or reasonable ground to believe that the accused had committed the offence. nature and gravity of the charge. severity of the punishment in the event of conviction.

What is unconditional bail?

a form of bail in which the accused does not have to remain in prison while awaiting trial and has no further restrictions placed upon them.