If a police investigation is ongoing into alleged criminal activity, you may be bailed to return to the police station on a future date. Once you have been charged with a criminal offence, the police are required to release you on bail unless one of the following applies:
the police have doubts about your identity or address, or
you need to be detained for your own, or someone else’s, protection
there are concerns that you will fail to attend court, or interfere with the administration of justice (e.g. by contacting witnesses)
Bail Offences
If you are released on police bail and do not return on the date and at the time required, you may be charged with a separate criminal offence. This is called ‘failure to surrender’ and whilst you may not think that the actual penalty given for this offence is particularly serious, it does count as a ‘breach of trust’. Breaches of trust on a person’s criminal record may affect your ability to get bail if you are ever charged with an offence in the future.
Bail Conditions
Your bail from the police station may be conditional or unconditional. If there are conditions attached to your bail, you may for example be told that you have to reside at a specific address, report to a local police station, stay inside your house at certain hours of the day, not contact certain people or go to certain places, or provide a surety (a sum of money that you may lose if you fail to attend court.) You may also be told to surrender your passport.
If you breach any of these conditions, you may be arrested and brought before the magistrates court. You may be charged under the Bail Act 1976 and could also be remanded in custody until your trial.
While on police bail you can apply at the magistrates court to vary the conditions of the bail, although there is no guarantee that the court will allow such variations.
Court Bail
Once you appear before the magistrates court, you can apply to vary your conditions. If you have been remanded in police custody, you can apply for bail at your hearing before the magistrates court. The court may grant you bail, may allow you bail with conditions, or refuse bail and remand you in custody.
If you have not been convicted of any offence, you have a right to be granted bail unless certain exceptions apply. If the court thinks that you are likely to fail to attend court, interfere with witnesses or may commit further offences you will not be given bail. In determining whether any of these factors apply to you, the court will consider the nature and seriousness of the offence that you have been charged with, the strength of the evidence against you, your personal circumstances and community ties, any previous convictions and in particular any breaches of trust (such as failure to answer bail), as well as whether you have any other outstanding charges or are currently serving any other sentence. From April 2017, the maximum limit a person can spend on bail is 28 days. An extension of up to three months may be granted by a senior officer. For any further extension, an application will need to be made to a magistrate.
Sureties
If the court decides that it is appropriate it can attach certain conditions to your bail so as to ensure, as far as possible that you return when you are supposed to. If you are asked to provide a surety, this is a sum of money – which you or someone else puts up on your behalf – that may have to be forfeit if you fail to surrender to bail. There is no need to pay this money to the court when you get bail, but you have to show that it is available if needed.
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.
If you do not get bail, there are limits on the amount of time you can spend in custody without the prosecution having to apply for an extension. These are:
Hi my son is on bail caus of his ex girlfriend constantly ringing the police on him
Saying he's hurt her like domestic abuse there is no.evidence for this and he's got to.go to court. The thing is she's constantly ringing and messaging him and because he's not answering she threatening him again with the police he's so worried and scared cause she's done this he's now not allowed to.see.his daughter because social services have been involved help what can we do to stop.her doing this and ruining my.sons life
Ray123 - 11-Apr-21 @ 2:45 AM
What does one do if they have no means of transport to the police station to answer bail?
Spqr1878 - 6-Apr-21 @ 1:20 PM
Hi just wondering because as it was a holiday yesterday my parenter forgot to sign into the police station but we thought it would be ok because everything was closed due to Easter day
Alley - 2-Apr-21 @ 10:44 PM
Can you get remanded when you answer bail with no fixed address or what can they do to you does anyone know please
PICKLE - 26-Mar-21 @ 12:02 AM
Me and my girlfriend had an argument and I went to court and I was givin an uncoditional bail not to speak or see her , problem is we are sill a couple and she hates what she did and made up a story to get back at me and now our court date is in middle of June ,. She want to retract the court order so we can be together again !
How can this be done and what does she need to do so we can be together again ?
Ben - 20-Mar-21 @ 11:01 AM
Hi I am on bail because of my ex and I can not have no contact but she has been texting and harrasing me I haven't answered nothing can she get in trouble for this
Tez - 23-Feb-21 @ 9:04 AM
How do I contact the police about someone breaching there bail I don’t like being on the phone is there any other way I can contact them?
Alig - 21-Feb-21 @ 1:03 AM
Hi I'm just wondering if some one could help me I have received mail in the post regarding some male been released on court bail but he is using my address I don't no the person at all who do I contact regarding this
gurt - 15-Feb-21 @ 3:00 PM
My ex is on court bail awaiting sentencing. He’s been told not to attend my property or get in touch. Today he’s been to the house. I’ve had to call the police, but not heard anything yet. What will happen to him? Will I be able to go to work without worrying?
Snailmail - 27-Jan-21 @ 6:24 PM
My abusive partner has been bailed to my address by the court but he does not live there.I have had to leave my home because of this.How do I get him out.
Ju - 19-Jan-21 @ 9:01 PM
I've have been granted bail until 3rd February for the Crown Court pre Trial hearing,my solicitor has told me that this date my be likely to change because of the situation( Covid ) , Will I still remain on bail or will I bekept me in custody?.
Rox - 13-Jan-21 @ 11:48 AM
If I’m on bail against someone and I message that person to try and save there life can I still be nicked
Beasty - 12-Jan-21 @ 11:09 PM
Hello,
What happens if you getarrested by the police they don’t interview you they don’t charge you but they put you on bail what does that mean please .
Lovely - 11-Jan-21 @ 7:31 PM
Hello, I am on bail section 4, how long can I be held in custody for breaking bail, is it until my bail due date
Drewstow - 5-Jan-21 @ 1:53 PM
Hi I'm on bail against my ex partner can I go to Leeds city centre
bek love mark - 22-Dec-20 @ 12:27 PM
If to people and involved in a investgation and one oh bouth are on bail can they see each other
Bob - 8-Dec-20 @ 8:14 PM
I’ve been issued a warrent for arrest has I was meant to attend court yesterday and didn’t know has I had no letters or didn’t Evan know I’d been charged is this right what they are doing
Shup - 18-Nov-20 @ 11:54 AM
How long are the police allowed to keep you in custody after you have been given bail?
H - 13-Nov-20 @ 5:51 PM
What happens if your ex gave your address and phone number to his solicitor to get bail and the solicitor rings but you dont answer what happens after?
Queenie - 10-Nov-20 @ 9:39 PM
I know someone who as to answer bail soon do that happen ona weekend or not thanks
Bonjoe10 - 9-Nov-20 @ 11:19 PM
I'm on bail and tag can I go to Leeds city centre
Beck - 22-Oct-20 @ 5:44 PM
I'm on tag bail how many days do i get back when sentenced
Richo - 12-Oct-20 @ 8:44 AM
Hi my partner pleaded guilty and got tag on and bail conditions to stay away from a person but he took tag off and got cought with the person who he was not ment to be with wat can happen can he get extra jail
Monkey - 8-Oct-20 @ 11:37 PM
My sons was ambushed out side school my granson was stopped going home told to go in a room by a stranger give her his phone he ran to dads waiting car the women came to by son screaming for him to get out of the car and he was arresssted and bail no access to kids two weeks and now I have to be with him on access I don’t trust social services they ask all the question no answered can I get guide ship of my grandaughter who only has him as her mum died
Ck - 8-Oct-20 @ 7:27 PM
My son had a visit from
Police leaving children while he worked at night they just went away three week later he is ambushed at the eldest school attacked by a plain clothes police office who didn’t make it known she was a police office but attacked him telling him to get out of the car screaming in front of his twelve year old son
She took my grandsons phone at school and told him to wait in a room it was an abuse
His ex told lies and said he had hit my grandaughter with a wench then a sledge hammer now on bail not seen kids two weeks still on bail the police where letting kids return then social services got involved
Now he can see kids twice a week in the community it’s crazy my don has had custody all my grandsons life he’s nearly
This all going on his ex has gone abroad with boyfriend leaving the two other kids 10 months and five with my older grandaughter who has a child in care and the has to isolate so she will not see any child gor a month
Cassy - 8-Oct-20 @ 7:22 PM
Please somebody give me a advice
I have break my bail conditions an I have contacted my ex partner ho put charge on me
I have serious problems or he can be fixt
And also al my belongs are at her house and I can't recover them
Leonard - 7-Oct-20 @ 3:19 PM
If my boyfriend needs a bail address is it allowed at my house ?
Cj - 13-Sep-20 @ 9:42 PM
My partner is on tag to my house but it is going on a lot longer than expected and we have separated in the mean time, how do I change the address so he can leave my property
Lisa - 9-Sep-20 @ 12:30 AM
Hello I just wanted to see if anyone new the answer. My boyfriend is hopefully getting bail and using my address but I’m technically not allowed visitors where I live. But he’s using it to get bail then going straight to the housing the day he’s released. If he is released. Will I get in trouble. I’m really worried and not sure what to do. Hope someone can help. Thank you in advance :)
Izz123 - 13-Aug-20 @ 3:42 PM
What condition would mean you cannot stay overnight at any other property other than your place of permanent residence?
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