Bailed From Crown Court Query.

[notnutnut]

Hello and good morning, it's been a while since I've posted here but only 'cause I'm busy. I wondered if anyone might be able to clarify this for me. For the first time in my life I've been given an e.m.s. ankle 'bling' thing 'to ensure my attendance at court'. The reason for this stems from my failure to appear on the due date. Although I had a very valid medical reason for missing this date I wasn't aware of the onus on me to get back to the court ASAP hence my being dipped off the street and given the free ride there. I've read the '76 Bail Act now and understand why the judge may have been peed off with me now. I've been back once since then (the judge thanked me for attending) but it looks like this case might drag on for a while and the tag's already making my leg sore especially when I wear boots 'round the farm. I'm tempted to go back to court and ask him if I can get it off now he's seen I can be trusted to turn up, I've never missed a bail date before and don't really understand how a tag would 'ensure my attendance at court'. Is this use of tagging for the stated reason a frequent thing ? I'm up for failing to comply with an enforcement notice (no custodial sentence I'm told) and I told them at Mag Court I'm not guilty anyway. I noticed yesterday that the quoted address on the bail form where I have to reside etc. is not mine, not even near me, it's an agricultural complex down the road some way from me. Does this not make the form invalid or a nullity whatever anyway I wondered ? As always, any help at all is very much appreciated, thank you. NNN.

[New Judge]

There are three general reasons for bail to be denied: that you might abscond (i.e. not turn up for your next hearing); that you may commit further crimes; that you may interfere with the course of justice (in particular witnesses). Bail with conditions may be used to offset these fears. An electronic tag is usually used to enforce a curfew (which itself is usually enforced to prevent the commission of further crimes). However, the court may well have a reason for believing that a tag may help ensure your attendance at court.

If you have a bail condition to reside at a certain address and the address quoted is not yours you need to get to the court asap to sort it out. Even if the form is incorrect, if you do not reside at the address stated you are, strictly speaking, in breach of your bail conditions. When you are given a bail notice with conditions you are asked to sign it to say you understand those conditions. Whilst you are at court you can make an application for the tag to be removed but it is entirey at the discretion of the court.

[notnutnut]

Thank you for that N J, I'll probably pop up and ask it be removed in the next couple of days anyway. With a D.O.B. in '51 this judge need not worry 'bout me creeping around at night up to no good either. I note in your post you mention my signing this bail form but on none of the three A4 sheets next to me does my signature appear ? Thanks again, NNN.