Research project
Pre-charge Bail
- Start date: 1 February 2011
- End date: 31 December 2014
- Primary investigator: 00914565
Pre-charge bail – the mechanism by which suspects may be released from police detention and released on bail whilst further enquiries are undertaken - is an important, coercive and controversial police power. The research carried out by Professor Anthea Hucklesby is the first independent investigation of the use of pre-charge bail in two police forces in England. The more specific objectives were:
- To explore the categories of suspects who are bailed before charge;
- To examine the circumstances in which pre-charge bail is used and the justifications for its use;
- To explore any patterns in the use of pre-charge bail;
- To investigate the impact of the use of pre-charge bail on the management of custody suites; and
- To explore investigating officers views of pre-charge bail, its use and management.
The research used a mixed method approach (observations, an analysis of administrative data (n=14,173), interviews (n=38) and questionnaires (n=297)).
A summary of the findings is available here:
Professor Anthea Hucklesby’s response to the Home Office is available here:
Professor Anthea Hucklesby’s evidence to the Select Committee on the Policing and Crime Bill is available here:
Presentations from the seminar held on 17 June 2015 are available here:
- Professor Anthea Hucklesby, School of Law, University of Leeds
The Future of Pre-charge Police Bail: an introduction [PDF] - Richard Atkinson (Robin Murray & Co)
Suspects’ rights and pre-charge bail [PDF] - Ed Cape (Professor of Criminal Law and Practice, University of the West of England)
Should pre-charge bail be abolished? [PDF]
Also read Professor Anthea Hucklesby’s responses to the College of Policing consultation on The use of pre-charge bail (2014) and the Home Office consultation on the Pre-charge bail: Introduction of Statutory Time Limits and Related changes.