The Police (Detention and Bail) Bill was brought forward after a High Court ruling confirmed an earlier decision that time spent on police bail counted towards the 96-hour limit on pre-charge detention.
Before the ruling, police had only counted time spent in custody towards the four-day limit, with suspects often released on bail for weeks or months. The Government’s emergency legislation has clarified that the long-standing practice of the police could continue.
But Bishop Peter Forster pointed to “the problems that arise simply as a consequence of police bail without conditions”.