HC Deb 14 October 1975 vol 897 cc676-7W
Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue instructions to Scotland Yard not to oppose bail in all cases of first offenders except when serious acts of violence are alleged.

Dr. Summerskill

No.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last official advice was issued to magistrates on the matter of granting bail to first offenders.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

No official advice specifically on this matter has been issued to magistrates, but the previous record of a defendant is one of a number of factors taken into account by the courts in deciding whether to grant bail. The major consideration for the magistrates is whether an accused will respond to his bail and in deciding this the court has to consider not only any previous convictions but also his past history.