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.’