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<p>Following the 2017 reforms to pre-charge bail, the police are still able to impose
pre-charge bail, with appropriate conditions, to protect victims and witnesses in
any case where doing so is both necessary and proportionate.</p><p>While the legislation
is clear that bail remains available in any case where it is necessary and proportionate,
the Home Office is working with partners across the Criminal Justice System to monitor
the impacts of the reforms, including to ensure that vulnerable victims and witnesses
continue to receive appropriate protection, whether through the use of pre-charge
bail conditions or otherwise.</p><p>In order to ensure that bail is used appropriately,
the Home Office has commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary &
Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to review the police’s use of pre-charge bail as
part of their annual PEEL effectiveness inspection programme. The use of pre-charge
bail continues to feature in HMICFRS’ core assessments and, in November 2018, the
Inspectorate will publish a thematic review of how forces are dealing with domestic
abuse cases, which will include a focus on the use of bail.</p><p>Pre-charge bail
is also a regular agenda item at Chief Constables’ Council, where chiefs have noted
that there is significant variation in the use of pre-charge bail between forces and
that they should ensure that they are content with the approach taken by their force.</p>
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