§ 19. Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans for improving the quality of information provided by the police to magistrates courts when making decisions about whether to remand in custody or on bail.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe police are already aware of the need to provide the Crown Prosecution Service with all information in their possession relevant to the decision whether or not to oppose bail. In addition, the probation service has run pilot schemes in certain areas, in which they have provided magistrates, through the Crown Prosecution Service, with detailed information about a defendant's suitability for bail. I am keeping a close eye on the progress of these schemes, with a view to evaluating the case for their extension.