How long can the police keep you on bail?

Asked by: Mr. Henry Jerde II  |  Last update: July 8, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (53 votes)

28 days maximum for standard criminal cases
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 without being charged UK?

Understanding Police Bail

The initial bail period is 28 days but can be extended up to 3 months by a Superintendent. If the Police wish to have bail extended further this will have to be done through the Magistrates' Court. Whilst breaching police bail is not an offence in itself, it can lead to you being arrested.

What happens when police bail ends UK?

What happens if I break the conditions set out to me in my court bail? If you break any of the conditions set out in your court bail, you may be arrested and brought before a magistrates' court. You may be charged under the Bail Act 1976 and could be remanded in custody until your trial begins.

How long can you be under investigation by police UK?

In the majority of cases, the police can detain someone without charge for 24 hours, but this can be extended to 36 or 96 hours if they're suspected of a serious crime.

What does police bail mean UK?

Bail from a police station

This means you'll be released from custody until your first court hearing. If you're given bail, you might have to agree to conditions like: living at a particular address. not contacting certain people. giving your passport to the police so you cannot leave the UK.

What can (and can't) you do while you're on bail? [Criminal law explainer]

31 related questions found

What happens after getting bail?

You have to wait for the summons to be received from court which will happen after the police is submitting the charge sheet before court. The complainant need not go to court. After bail your mother have to appear for every hearing of court other wise court will again issue Non bailable warrant against her.

How long can they keep you 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 long do police have to prosecute?

The police have to send you a notice of intended prosecution within 14 days of the alleged offence (there are exceptions to this rule if you have moved recently etc). The court summons has to be issued within 6 months of the date of the alleged offence.

Can bail conditions be dropped?

Where you do not agree with the conditions that have been set by the Magistrates' Court, it is possible to ask them to reconsider. If the Magistrates' Court has reconsidered and you are still not happy with your bail conditions, you can apply to the Crown Court to request that certain conditions are changed.

What happens after police investigation?

When the police finish their investigation they might pass the information to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The police or CPS will decide whether to take the case to court. If they later decide to stop or change your case, you should be told the reasons why within 5 working days.

How long can the police keep your phone UK?

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.

How long does it take for CPS to make a decision UK?

The CPS will, wherever possible, complete the review and communicate the decision to the victim within an overall review timeframe of 30 working days. In cases where it is not possible to provide a VRR decision within the usual timeframes, for example in more complex cases, the CPS will notify the victim accordingly.

How do the police decide to charge?

The decision to charge any person with an offence is usually taken by the CPS. If the CPS decides there is sufficient evidence to charge you with an offence then you will be taken before a custody sergeant who will read out the alleged offence to you.

How long can magistrates extend bail for?

You are responsible for the decision of whether to authorise an additional bail period of up to three months. District/Branch Commanders: You are responsible for the governance of investigations where a suspect has been released under investigation or on police bail.

Why does bail get extended?

Another reason why bail might be extended is if the offence is an either way or indictable only offence, and the police are waiting for a charging decision from the CPS.

How long does it take for the CPS to decide to prosecute?

The CPS will usually conclude their review within 30 working days of the request, but in some complex cases, this could take longer. If the victim is not satisfied with the CPS' review decision, they can lodge an application at court for a judicial review, to challenge the decision.

How long can you be on pre charge bail?

3.1 Process of pre-charge bail

The suspect can only be detained in custody in most cases up to 24 or 36 hours (referred to as the 'custody clock') before they must be charged or released.

What happens if bail conditions are broken UK?

What happens if bail conditions are broken? A defendant who breaches their bail conditions will be brought back to court, where a judge or magistrates will decide whether to remand them in custody or release them again.

What happens when you return to 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.

Can the police prosecute after 6 months?

Can I still be prosecuted? The Police do not physically have to serve proceedings within 6 months of the offence. Their obligation is to lodge sufficient information with the Court so that the process can be started.

How long does it take for a case to go to court UK?

According to government statistics, it took an average of 357 days for a case to get all the way to the Crown Court, and an average of 178 days in court to get to an outcome. The data can be further broken down by charging stage: Time between the offence being committed and being charged: 323 days.

How much evidence is needed to convict UK?

5. The burden of proving the guilt of the defendant lies on the prosecution, who must prove the particulars of the offence beyond reasonable doubt; the jury or magistrates should only convict if they are sure of the defendant's guilt.

What evidence do CPS need to charge?

The evidence they gather includes documentary, physical, photographic and other forensic evidence and not just witness testimony. The police arrest and interview suspects. All of this produces a file which when complete the police send to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for review and a decision on prosecuting.

How long can a case be pending UK?

If you are suspected of a serious crime – for example, murder – you may be held in custody up to 96 hours (four days). If you are arrested on terrorism grounds, you can be held in police custody without being charged for as long as 14 days.

How long do police have to charge you for a driving offence?

The 14 days starts running from the date of the offence and as long as the notice of intended prosecution is sent to the registered owner within 14 days, that will mean that a prosecution can be pursued even though the driver may not receive a notice intended prosecution within those 14 days.