Bail

[lankeela]

If someone has been arrested and then released on bail pending further investigation do they have to have been charged? Also is there any way of finding this information out - eg public record of it?

[Garmard]

No they are not usually charged straight away, my daughter is a police officer and they usually charge them when enough evidence has been gathered against said person before trying them in a court of law.

[dh001]

Hi Lankeela

There are various types of bail for different situations in criminal proceedings. Being released on bail pending further enquiries / investigation means that the accused has not been charged.

If you are connected to the case i.e. the victim then you should be informed.

[lankeela]

Thanks, not directly involved, but may be called as a witness if it goes to court. I want to know if it can be made public without prejudicing the case, which is why I asked if there was a public record of the arrest/bail. Sometimes you read in the paper where someone has been arrested and bailed, how do the papers get that information?

[Eve]

Have you tried asking the police station he was dealt with at? Not sure if they can tell you but might be worth a try if you explain why you want to know.

[dh001]

Sorry lankeela I did not see your reply.

There is no public record as such of people arrested or bailed but as we constantly see in the media there are people named who have been arrested and bailed such as the disgraceful criminal joint secretaries of Unite Against Facsim etc recently arrested for violence.

If a person is charged with an offence the media can print it if it is of any interest.