Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to increase the efficiency of the bail system.

My Right Honourable Friend the Home Secretary announced on 23 March a package of measures to reduce both the number of individuals subject to, and the average duration of, pre-charge bail. As set out in the Gracious Speech, the Government will legislate in the Policing and Criminal Justice Bill to adopt those reforms.

These measures will bring greater accountability to pre-charge bail and ensure people do not spend months, or even years on bail, only for charges to be dropped.