What happens when you are on bail UK?

Asked by: Edna Wiegand  |  Last update: October 17, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (72 votes)

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.

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 after bail is granted UK?

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).

How long can you be on bail England?

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.

Do you get bail money back UK?

Known as a bail bond or cash bail, an amount of money is posted so that the suspect can be released from pre-trial detention. If the suspect makes all of their required court appearances, this deposit is refunded.

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

22 related questions found

Does bail mean you have been charged?

Bail from a police station

You can be given bail at the police station after you've been charged. 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.

What happens when you are released 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. Anyone providing a guarantee (or surety) may also have to enter into a recognisance.

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 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 much does bail cost in the UK?

Anyway, bail in the UK is almost always on a person's "own recognisance", often with conditions attached. That means no money is involved. Bail will be granted automatically unless there's some reason not to give it - ie, the person might run off.

How long can you be on bail for?

What it did do was to establish that, initially, the police can only bail a person for 28 days, although this can be extended by a senior police officer to a total of three months, and thereafter it can be further extended by a magistrates' court, ultimately indefinitely.

What are the conditions of bail?

What are the Conditions of Bail?
  • The undertaking shall be effective upon approval, and unless cancelled, shall remain in force at all stages of the case.
  • The accused shall appear before the proper court whenever required by the court or by the Rules of Court.

What powers do the police have to grant bail?

-Police may release a suspect on bail whilst they make further enquiries, "bailed to return". -The suspect may be released on condition he/she returns on a specific date. - Police may give bail to a suspect charges with an offence and they must appear at the local Magistrates' Court at an agreed date and time.

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 does CPS take to investigate UK?

Police investigations can take a long time. It may be several months before you hear anything about the case. Once the police have completed their investigation, the case is passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS then decide whether to charge the suspect.

Can you get bail conditions 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.

Do first offenders go to jail UK?

Graph 1 below undermines the notion that a large number of people are sent to prison early in their criminal career. In fact, fewer than 8% of prison sentences were imposed on first-time offenders.

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 crimes carry a 5 year sentence UK?

Parliament has also introduced minimum sentences for some serious offences that must be imposed unless there are exceptional circumstances:
  • seven years' imprisonment for a third Class A drug trafficking offence.
  • three years for a third domestic burglary.
  • five years for certain firearms offences.

Can police read text messages UK?

The police can read your text messages when they obtain your data through phone extraction. In addition, they can get an order from the court that will oblige your service provider to disclose a list of the times and dates that messages were sent and their recipients.

Can police look up old text messages?

Deleted text messages are usually retrievable from a phone, but before beginning the process, law enforcement officers would need to obtain a court order. Once obtained, officers can use mobile device forensic tools (MDFTs) to extract any data from a device, including emails, texts, images and location data.

Can police get deleted messages UK?

So, can police recover deleted pictures, texts, and files from a phone? The answer is yes—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.

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.

Do I need a solicitor to answer bail?

Do I need a solicitor if I am to be charged? Yes, you need advice before charge because anything that you say at the time of charge is admissible evidence against you. You need to have the charges explained to you and you need a solicitor to represent you who knows about your case.

When can bail be refused UK?

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.