§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases bail was refused by the Sheffield magistrates in the months of January, February and March 1975, divided broadly into the following categories (a) offences involving violence including rape (b) theft or other forms of offence against property and (c) other offences.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonI regret that this information could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used by the police as a basis for opposing bail.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonThe police have been advised that they should not740W oppose bail unless there are special and strong reasons for doing so.
The three established reasons for a court's refusing bail are: (a) the likelihood of the defendant's failing to attend at the time and place required; (b) the likelihood of his committing serious offences; and (c) the likelihood of his otherwise interfering with the course of justice, if granted bail.
I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of a circular on bail procedures which was issued last week to the courts and to chief officers of police.