PART IIIS Bail

27 Breach of bail conditions: offences.S

(1)Subject to subsection (7) below, an accused who having been granted bail fails without reasonable excuse—

(a)to appear at the time and place appointed for any diet of which he has been given due notice [F1or at which he is required by this Act to appear] ; or

(b)to comply with any other condition imposed on bail,

shall, subject to subsection (3) below, be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties specified in subsection (2) below.

(2)The penalties mentioned in subsection (1) above are—

(a)a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale; and

(b)imprisonment for a period—

(i)where conviction is in the [F2JP court] , not exceeding 60 days; or

(ii)in any other case, not exceeding [F312] months.

(3)Where, and to the extent that, the failure referred to in subsection (1)(b) above consists in the accused having committed an offence while on bail (in this section referred to as “the subsequent offence”), he shall not be guilty of an offence under that subsection but, subject to subsection (4) below, the court which sentences him for the subsequent offence shall, in determining the appropriate sentence or disposal for that offence, have regard to—

(a)the fact that the offence was committed by him while on bail and the number of bail orders to which he was subject when the offence was committed;

(b)any previous conviction of the accused of an offence under subsection (1)(b) above; and

(c)the extent to which the sentence or disposal in respect of any previous conviction of the accused differed, by virtue of this subsection, from that which the court would have imposed but for this subsection.

[F4(3A)The reference in subsection (3)(b) to any previous conviction of an offence under subsection (1)(b) includes any previous conviction by a court in England and Wales, Northern Ireland or a member State of the European Union other than the United Kingdom of an offence that is equivalent to an offence under subsection (1)(b).

(3B)The references in subsection (3)(c) to subsection (3) are to be read, in relation to a previous conviction by a court referred to in subsection (3A), as references to any provision that is equivalent to subsection (3).

(3C)Any issue of equivalence arising in pursuance of subsection (3A) or (3B) is for the court to determine.]

(4)The court shall not, under subsection (3) above, have regard to the fact that the subsequent offence was committed while the accused was on bail unless that fact is libelled in the indictment or, as the case may be, specified in the complaint.

[F5(4A)The fact that the subsequent offence was committed while the accused was on bail shall, unless challenged—

(a)in the case of proceedings on indictment, by giving notice of a preliminary objection [F6in accordance with section 71(2) or 72(6)(b)(i)] of this Act; or

(b)in summary proceedings, by preliminary objection before his plea is recorded,

be held as admitted.]

[F7(4B)In any proceedings in relation to an offence under subsection (1) above or subsection 7 below, the fact that (as the case may be) an accused—

(a)was on bail;

(b)was subject to any particular condition of bail;

(c)failed to appear at a diet; or

(d)was given due notice of a diet,

shall, unless challenged in the manner described in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4A) above, be held as admitted.]

(5)Where the maximum penalty in respect of the subsequent offence is specified by or by virtue of any enactment, that maximum penalty shall, for the purposes of the court’s determination, by virtue of subsection (3) above, of the appropriate sentence or disposal in respect of that offence, be increased—

(a)where it is a fine, by the amount for the time being equivalent to level 3 on the standard scale; and

(b)where it is a period of imprisonment—

(i)as respects a conviction in the High Court or the sheriff court, by 6 months; and

(ii)as respects a conviction in the [F2JP court] , by 60 days,

notwithstanding that the maximum penalty as so increased exceeds the penalty which it would otherwise be competent for the court to impose.

(6)Where the sentence or disposal in respect of the subsequent offence is, by virtue of subsection (3) above, different from that which the court would have imposed but for that subsection, the court shall state the extent of and the reasons for that difference.

[F8(6A)Where, despite the requirement to have regard to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (3) above, the sentence or disposal in respect of the subsequent offence is not different from that which the court would have imposed but for that subsection, the court shall state (as appropriate, by reference to those matters) the reasons for there being no difference.]

(7)An accused who having been granted bail in relation to solemn proceedings fails without reasonable excuse to appear at the time and place appointed for any diet of which he has been given due notice (where such diet is in respect of solemn proceedings) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to the following penalties—

(a)a fine; and

(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding [F95] years.

(8)At any time before the trial of an accused under solemn procedure for the original offence, it shall be competent—

(a)to amend the indictment to include an additional charge of an offence under this section;

(b)to include in the list of witnesses or productions relating to the original offence, witnesses or productions relating to the offence under this section.

[F10(8A)At any time before the trial of an accused in summary proceedings for the original offence, it is competent to amend the complaint to include an additional charge of an offence under this section.]

(9)[F11A penalty under subsection (2) or (7) above shall] be imposed in addition to any other penalty which it is competent for the court to impose, notwithstanding that the total of penalties imposed may exceed the maximum penalty which it is competent to impose in respect of the original offence.

[F12(9A)The reference in subsection (9) above to a penalty being imposed in addition to another penalty means, in the case of sentences of imprisonment or detention—

(a)where the sentences are imposed at the same time (whether or not in relation to the same complaint or indictment), framing the sentences so that they have effect consecutively;

(b)where the sentences are imposed at different times, framing the sentence imposed later so that (if the earlier sentence has not been served) the later sentence has effect consecutive to the earlier sentence.

(9B)Subsection (9A)(b) above is subject to section 204A of this Act.]

(10)A court which finds an accused guilty of an offence under this section may remit the accused for sentence in respect of that offence to any court which is considering the original offence.

(11)In this section “the original offence” means the offence with which the accused was charged when he was granted bail or an offence charged in the same proceedings as that offence.

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 27(2)(b)(i)(5)(b)(ii) substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 26(c); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2

F4S. 27(3A)-(3C) inserted (13.12.2010 for all purposes in respect of offences committed on or after this date) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 71(1), 206(1), Sch. 4 para. 3; S.S.I. 2010/413, art. 2, Sch.

F5S. 27(4A) inserted (4.7.1996) by 1996 c. 25, s. 73(2)