Emergency legislation on police bail

Nick Herbert
Nick Herbert

Policing Minister Nick Herbert has said the government will urgently bring forward emergency legislation to overturn a high court ruling on police bail.

The judgment means the time suspects spend on bail could count towards any maximum period of pre-charge detention.

The police have said the ruling will have a serious impact on their ability to investigate crime.

Support for the police

Nick Herbert confirmed that the government fully supports the police appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, saying:

‘We cannot, must not and will not ask the police to do their work with one hand tied behind their backs.’
Speaking to the House of Commons he said:

‘Emergency legislation will clarify the position and provide assurance that the police can continue to operate on the basis on which they have been operating for many years.’

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