The police bail system explained
THE Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act is at the centre of the row which has sent the legal system into meltdown.
The so-called PACE clock allows a suspect to be detained and questioned for up to 96 hours and in the past the clock was said to stop when a suspect was bailed, allowing the police to gather evidence for charges to be brought.
Judge Jonathon Finestein’s interpretation changes this by saying 96 hours is the total amount of time available to the police to bring a charge.
If his decision isn’t overturned on appeal, it will mean that police must charge suspects within four days or free them.
But, even then, suspects can still be re-arrested and charged if new evidence such as DNA tests or computer records come to light.
