Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to prevent rape suspects from leaving the country during an active investigation.

Police have wide discretion to impose bail conditions on rape suspects intended to protect victims and witnesses, prevent offending and to prevent the suspect from failing to appear in court – including by requiring suspects to surrender their passport.

Bail conditions must be necessary, reasonable and proportionate, and subject to regular review as the perceived risk posed by the suspect may change over time.

The police should, if practicable, always consult the victim regarding the decision to release a suspect on bail and the conditions to impose.