Thousands of Britons left on police bail for months

A new research has shown that almost 60,000 people in the UK are currently on police bail, while thousands have been waiting for six months to find out whether they will be charged.

Figures from 34 of the 44 police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which responded to a freedom of information request, revealed that there are at least 57,428 people now on bail.

Among those, 3,172 have been playing the waiting game for more than six months for a decision on probable charges.

Data collected by the state-run BBC even showed that one person has stayed on bail after being arrested more than three years ago.

The largest number of people on bail was in the London Metropolitan Police force’s area with 12,178 and West Yorkshire second on 3,979.

The Law Society requested a review of police bail practices as its criminal law committee chairman Richard Atkinson said that 28 days should be a statutory maximum period for police bail. But it could be extended by applying to a magistrate.

Police Federation Vice-chairman Steve White blamed the figures on the government’s spending cuts, saying, “We are being asked to do more with less and there comes a point where you can’t do any more or do it any quicker.”