How long can you be kept on police bail for without being charged?
It’s a very stressful experience being on bail but not charged. You may feel like you cannot move on with your life and the bail conditions may be overly restrictive.
Pre-charge bail is time restricted so the investigation cannot go on indefinitely like when you are released under investigation. In this article, we’ll discuss how long you can be on bail without being charged.
How long can I be on bail without being charged?
The police can keep you on bail for a limited amount of time. Initially, pre-charge bail is set at 3 months. It can be extended in 3 month increments up to a maximum of 12 months from your initial bail date. In total, your bail can be extended 3 times.
The police may extend your bail for various reasons. In order to secure an extension, investigators must demonstrate that the extension is truly required, that they are working diligently, and as quickly as possible. They may be waiting on forensic results to come back or be in the process of coordinating interviews with further witnesses.
Here is an outline of the extension stages involved in pre-charge bail:
- First extension - 6 months from initial bail date - Approved by inspector or higher
- Second extension - 9 months from initial bail date - Approved by superintendent or higher
- Third extension - 12 months from initial bail date - Approved by Magistrates' Court
What to do if you are released on bail
The pre-charge bail period is a critical period of time. It’s an opportunity to initiate pre-charge engagement (see video below), allowing you and your legal team to make a case to the investigating team that they should end the case with no charges.
If you have not already sought legal representation, or you have but are unhappy with your current solicitors, please contact the pre-charge solicitors at Holborn Adams today. We are pioneers of pre-charge – we consistently bring cases to a close before our clients ever receive any charges. Don’t hesitate as every minute is critical – call us today.
