Bail

[Happy2408]

Hi I am due at the police station next week to be charged can I turn up earlier as I am passing there I can't get hold of the officer to ask him

[Davemano]

The officer might not be there any earlier.

[EDDIE51]

No, you have to answer Bail at the time and date specified unless you can rearrange it with the police.

[Happy2408]

Just I was passing there tomorrow I have asked my solicitor to ask them if they can do it by letter I understand you can now be charged by letter I have to go 80 miles from where I live

[EDDIE51]

Don't bother, you must answer bail in person. If you don't turn up you will be arrested and taken to the police station. Then probably be kept in custody until the court date as you will have shown you can not be trusted to turn up.

[Smowball]

EDDIE is right. You can't change it to suit I'm afraid.

[Happy2408]

Ok thanks my solicitor said I just turn up they will charge me then realise me on bail till court hearing is this right

[EDDIE51]

^ Yes that is correct but you must turn up at the date and time specified.

[Happy2408]

5 mins I be there apparently my solicitor said they don't turn up just for that I am surprised really

[Happy2408]

5 mins I be there apparently my solicitor said they don't turn up just for that I am surprised really at that

[Happy2408]

I think my solicitor is just saying that I think I will turn up and they will keep me till my court hearing

[EDDIE51]

Sorry I'm not clear, is your solicitor saying just turn up when you happen to be passing? If so I am sure you have misunderstood.
You need to answer bail at the correct time unless the police have agreed to change it. Once you answer bail you will be charged and then released on bail until the court date.

[Happy2408]

No I am saying I find it strange there not turning up to support me I bet they keep me till my court date I think my solicitor was just saying that I just turn up on the date and time that they said and how long till I hear from courts does anyone know

[EDDIE51]

What is the charge? Some times for a minor offence the court date can be months away .

[Happy2408]

Theft for person x4 but been on bail 1yr

[EDDIE51]

Could be another year there is no way of predicting. The police may still be gathering evidence if there were 4 offences, they will also be looking to see if there could be more cases they do not know about yet.

[Happy2408]

Can I ask how do you know this information please

[Happy2408]

Thanks for your information everyone

[EDDIE51]

I know just by looking at news reports and studying details of court cases. A year or more on bail waiting for a court hearing is not unusual. I have seen cases where it took over 2 years to bring a case to court. In fact one case I saw a few months back took over 3 years to come to court.

[New Judge]

"I bet they keep me till my court date..."

You can only be denied bail if there are grounds to believe that you will either:

(a) Abscond (i.e not turn up when required next time)
(b) Interfere with the course of justice (in particular contact witnesses) or
(c) Commit further offences

Since the police have allowed you bail for a year without substantial fears of any of the above and charging you makes no significant different to their fears then your bail will be renewed.

[EDDIE51]

There is a new limit to bail just announced
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/03/police-bail-28-day-limit-england-wales
But if you read the link there are still ways the bail can be extended. Also this only applies to new cases , so as you have already been on bail over a year it will not apply to you, sorry !