In a shocking report published today, HM CPS Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services criticised the ‘unacceptable’ lack of scrutiny in cases where suspects are released under investigation (RUI).
Legislation introduced in 2017 to prevent suspects being on bail for long periods of time allowed for the principle of releasing suspects under investigation. Unlike bail, there are no time limits for RUI.
In 62 of 140 charged cases that inspectors looked at, RUI was used when inspectors thought bail with conditions should have been used to protect victims. Cases included domestic abuse, sexual offences and offences against children. ‘This is extremely worrying, especially for the victims in these cases, who had no bail conditions in place to keep them safe,’ the report says.
Suspects on bail had regular contact with the police throughout the investigation. However, suspects released under investigation often heard nothing.
‘We were concerned to hear from officers we spoke with that they don’t consider it their responsibility to update the suspect at all. Some officers told us. “Why should we have to tell them anything about the investigation?”,’ the report says.