Bail Act 1976

5 Supplementary provisions about decisions on bail. E+W

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, where—

(a) a court or constable grants bail in criminal proceedings, or

(b) a court withholds bail in criminal proceedings from a person to whom section 4 of this act applies, or

(c) a court, officer of a court or constable appoints a time or place or a court or officer of a court appoints a different time or place for a person granted bail in criminal proceedings to surrender to custody, or

(d) a court [F1 or constable]varies any conditions of bail or imposes conditions in respect of bail in criminal proceedings,

that court, officer or constable shall make a record of the decision in the prescribed manner and containing the prescribed particulars and, if requested to do so by the person in relation to whom the decision was taken, shall cause him to be given a copy of the record of the decision as soon as practicable after the record is made.

(2) Where bail in criminal proceedings is granted by endorsing a warrant of arrest for bail the constable who releases on bail the person arrested shall make the record required by subsection (1) above instead of the judge or justice who issued the warrant.

[F2 (2A) Where a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court grants bail in criminal proceedings to a person to whom section 4 of this Act applies after hearing representations from the prosecutor in favour of withholding bail, then the court shall give reasons for granting bail.

(2B) A court which is by virtue of subsection (2A) above required to give reasons for its decision shall include a note of those reasons in the record of its decision and, if requested to do so by the prosecutor, shall cause the prosecutor to be given a copy of the record of the decision as soon as practicable after the record is made.]

(3) Where a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court—

(a) withholds bail in criminal proceedings, or

(b) imposes conditions in granting bail in criminal proceedings, or

(c) varies any conditions of bail or imposes conditions in respect of bail in criminal proceedings,

and does so in relation to a person to whom section 4 of this Act applies, then the court shall, F3 ..., give reasons for withholding bail or for imposing or varying the conditions.

(4) A court which is by virtue of subsection (3) above required to give reasons for its decision shall include a note of those reasons in the record of its decision and shall (except in a case where, by virtue of subsection (5) below, this need not be done) give a copy of that note to the person in relation to whom the decision was taken.

(5) The Crown Court need not give a copy of the note of the reasons for its decision to the person in relation to whom the decision was taken where that person is represented by counsel or a solicitor unless his counsel or solicitor requests the court to do so.

(6) Where a magistrates’ court withholds bail in criminal proceedings from a person who is not represented by counsel or a solicitor, the court shall—

(a) if it is committing him for trial to the Crown Court [F4 or if it issues a certificate under subsection (6A) below], inform him that he may apply F5 ... to the Crown Court to be granted bail;

F6 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F7 (6A) Where in criminal proceedings—

(a) a magistrates’ court remands a person in custody under [F8 section 11 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (remand for medical examination) or] any of the following provisions of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980—

(i) section 5 (adjournment of inquiry into offence);

(ii) section 10 (adjournment of trial); [F9 or]

[F10 (iii) section 18 (initial procedure on information against adult for offence triable either way),]

after hearing full argument on an application for bail from him; and

(b) either—

(i) it has not previously heard such argument on an application for bail from him in those proceedings; or

(ii) it has previously heard full argument from him on such an application but it is satisfied that there has been a change in his circumstances or that new considerations have been placed before it,

it shall be the duty of the court to issue a certificate in the prescribed form that they heard full argument on his application for bail before they refused the application.

(6B) Where the court issues a certificate under subsection (6A) above in a case to which paragraph (b)(ii) of that subsection applies, it shall state in the certificate the nature of the change of circumstances or the new considerations which caused it to hear a further fully argued bail application.

(6C) Where a court issues a certificate under subsection (6A) above it shall cause the person to whom it refuses bail to be given a copy of the certificate.]

(7) Where a person has given security in pursuance of section 3(5) above and a court is satisfied that he failed to surrender to custody then, unless it appears that he had reasonable cause for his failure, the court may order the forfeiture of the security.

(8) If a court orders the forfeiture of a security under subsection (7) above, the court may declare that the forfeiture extends to such amount less than the full value of the security as it thinks fit to order.

[F11 (8A) An order under subsection (7) above shall, unless previously revoked, have effect at the end of twenty-one days beginning with the day on which it is made.

(8B) A court which has ordered the forfeiture of a security under subsection (7) above may, if satisfied on an application made by or on behalf of the person who gave it that he did after all have reasonable cause for his failure to surrender to custody, by order remit the forfeiture or declare that it extends to such amount less than the full value of the security as it thinks fit to order.

(8C) An application under subsection (8B) above may be made before or after the order for forfeiture has taken effect, but shall not be entertained unless the court is satisfied that the prosecution was given reasonable notice of the applicant’s intention to make it.]

(9) A security which has been ordered to be forfeited by a court under subsection (7) above shall, to the extent of the forfeiture—

(a) if it consists of money, be accounted for and paid in the same manner as a fine imposed by that court would be;

(b) if it does not consist of money, be enforced by such magistrates’ court as may be specified in the order.

[F12 (9A) Where an order is made under subsection (8B) above after the order for forfeiture of the security in question has taken effect, any money which would have fallen to be repaid or paid over to the person who gave the security if the order under subsection (8B) had been made before the order for forfeiture took effect shall be repaid or paid over to him.]

(10) In this section “prescribed” means, in relation to the decision of a court or an officer of a court, prescribed by [F13 Civil Procedure Rules, Courts-Martial Appeal rules or Criminal Procedure Rules] , as the case requires or, in relation to a decision of a constable, prescribed by direction of the Secretary of State.

[F14 (11) This section is subject, in its application to bail granted by a constable, to section 5A of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 5(1)(d) inserted (10.4.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 27(4), Sch. 3 para. 1(a); S.I. 1995/721, art. 2, Sch.

F2 S. 5(2A)(2B) inserted (1.8.2001) by 2001 c. 16, s. 129(1); S.I. 2001/2223, art. 3(i)

F3 Words in s. 5(3) repealed (5.4.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 37 Pt. 2; S.I. 2004/829, art. 2(1)(2)(l)(ii)

F4 Words inserted as provided by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 60(2)(3)

F5 Words in s. 5(6)(a) repealed (5.4.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 37 Pt. 2; S.I. 2004/829, art. 2(1)(2)(l)(ii)

F6 S. 5(6)(b) repealed (5.4.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 37 Pt. 2; S.I. 2004/829, art. 2(1)(2)(l)(ii)

F7 S. 5(6A)–(6C) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 60(2)(3)

F8 Words in s. 5(6A)(a) inserted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165(1), 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 53(a)

F9 Word in s. 5(6A)(a)(ii) inserted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165(1), 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 53(b)

F10 S. 5(6A)(a)(iii) substituted (25.8.2000) for s. 5(6A)(a)(iii)(iv) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165(1), 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 53(c)

F11 S. 5(8A)–(8C) inserted by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 12

F12 S. 5(9A) inserted by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 12

F13 Words in s. 5(10) substituted (1.9.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 182; S.I. 2004/2066, art. 2(c)(ix) (with art. 3)

F14 S. 5(11) inserted (10.4.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 27(4), Sch. 3 para. 1(b); S.I. 1995/721, art. 2, Sch.