Do police check bail address for pre-charge bail?
Have you been released on pre-charge bail? If you’re reading this post, it’s likely that the police have stated you must stay at a specific address for the duration of your bail. If you are found staying at a different address, you will be in breach of your bail conditions and may be arrested.
In this article, we’ll discuss whether the police actually check whether you are living at your bail address.
Do the police check bail addresses before they release you?
The police usually do verify your bail address before they release you. If you are a legal tenant or owner, they will ask you to provide paper proof that you are a resident there, such as a utility bill or tenancy agreement.
If you are going to live with a family member or a friend, the police will usually contact them in advance to confirm you will be staying there and that they are happy with the arrangement.
For serious cases, the police may physically visit your bail address for a check.
They may not release you on bail if they don’t think the address is suitable.
Do the police check your bail address once you have been released on bail?
The police don’t routinely visit bail addresses once you have been released on bail. They generally only do so if they have reasonable belief that you have breached your bail conditions, or committed further offences.
They will only be able to enter your home:
- With a warrant.
- If you give them consent.
- If they are coming to arrest you.
- If they need to enter to prevent serious harm to someone inside the home.
Can I get my bail conditions lifted?
It is possible to have your bail conditions lifted or changed. You can request to have the bail address condition lifted by asking your solicitor to appeal to the police. They will make a case that this condition (and any others you’d like lifted or changed), is unnecessary and/or disproportionate to the alleged offence.
What should you do if you want to change your bail address?
If you wish to change your bail address, your solicitor can contact the police to request that it is changed. If the police are satisfied with this address and they can confirm you definitely will be staying there, they may be able to approve this without the need for an official court hearing.
What should you do if you want to stay somewhere else for a night?
Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that you’ll be allowed to stay at a different address than the bail address you gave police. Your bail conditions have been imposed for a reason, so the police can be sure you are easy to track down.
Do not try and stay at a different address even for one night without the explicit written consent from the police. Your solicitor can help you arrange this.
Please speak to your criminal defence solicitor if you wish to appeal for varied bail conditions, such as flexibility as to where you stay at night.
On police bail?
If you are on police bail, this is a critical time to fight your corner to avoid being charged, ending this whole nightmarish process quickly.
At Holborn Adams, we are massive proponents of pre-charge engagement, a process where you approach the investigating team with a case as to why you should not be formally charged.
Please contact the pre-charge solicitors at Holborn Adams today – we can guide you through this process.
