Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 47

Bail after arrest

Part IV Detention

(1)[F328 Subject to the following provisions of this sectionF328] , a release on bail of a person under this Part of this Act shall be a release on bail granted in accordance with [F329sections 3, 3A, 5 and 5A of the Bail Act 1976 as they apply to bail granted by a constableF329] .

[F330 (1A) The normal powers to impose conditions of bail shall be available to him where a custody officer releases a person on bail under [F331 this Part (except sections 37C(2)(b) and 37CA(2)(b)) F331] . In this subsection, “the normal powers to impose conditions of bail” has the meaning given in section 3(6) of the Bail Act 1976 . F330]

[F332 (1B)No application may be made under section 5B of the Bail Act 1976 if a person is released on bail under section F333[F334 ... 37C(2)(b) or 37CA(2)(b)F334] above.

(1C)Subsections (1D) to (1F) below apply where a person released on bail under section F335[F336 ... 37C(2)(b) or 37CA(2)(b)F336] above is on bail subject to conditions.

(1D)The person shall not be entitled to make an application under section 43B of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980.

(1E) A magistrates' court may, on an application by or on behalf of the person, vary the conditions of bail; and in this subsection “vary” has the same meaning as in the Bail Act 1976 .

(1F)Where a magistrates' court varies the conditions of bail under subsection (1E) above, that bail shall not lapse but shall continue subject to the conditions as so varied.F332]

(2)Nothing in the Bail Act 1976 shall prevent the re-arrest without warrant of a person released on bail subject to a duty to attend at a police station if [F337, since the person’s release, new evidence has come to light or an examination or analysis of existing evidence has been made which could not reasonably have been made before the person’s releaseF337] .

(3) Subject to [F338 subsections (3A) and (4) F338] below, in this Part of this Act references to “bail” are references to bail subject to a duty—

[F339 (a)to appear before a magistrates' court at such time and such place as the custody officer may appoint;

(b)to attend at such police station as the custody officer may appoint at such time as he may appoint for the purposes of—

[F340 (i)proceedings held for the purposes of section 51 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (directions for live links in criminal proceedings) so far as that section applies to preliminary hearings (within the meaning of that section), and

(ii)any such hearing in relation to which a direction under that section is given requiring or permitting the person on bail to take part through a live audio link or a live video link (within the meaning of that section);F340]

(c)to attend at such police station as the custody officer may appoint at such time as he may appoint for purposes other than those mentioned in paragraph (b) [F341 (subject to section 47ZA)F341] .F339]

[F342 (3A)Where a custody officer grants bail to a person subject to a duty to appear before a magistrates’ court, he shall appoint for the appearance—

(a)a date which is not later than the first sitting of the court after the person is charged with the offence; or

(b)where he is informed by the [F343 designated officer for the relevant local justiceF343] area that the appearance cannot be accommodated until a later date, that later date.F342]

(4)Where a custody officer has granted bail to a person subject to a duty to appear at a police station, the custody officer may give notice in writing to that person that his attendance at the police station is not required.

[F344 (4A)Where a person has been granted bail under this Part subject to a duty to attend at a police station, a custody officer may subsequently appoint a different time, or an additional time, at which the person is to attend at the police station to answer bail.

(4B)The custody officer must give the person notice in writing of the exercise of the power under subsection (4A).

(4C)The exercise of the power under subsection (4A) does not affect the conditions of bail (if any).

(4D)A custody officer may not appoint a time for a person’s attendance under subsection (4A) which is after the end of the applicable bail period in relation to the person.

(4E)Subsection (4D) is subject to section 47ZL.F344]

F345(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)Where a person [F346who has been granted bail [F347 under this PartF347] and either has attended at the police station in accordance with the grant of bail or has been arrested under section 46A above is detained at a police stationF346] , any time during which he was in police detention prior to being granted bail shall be included as part of any period which falls to be calculated under this Part of this Act [F348and any time during which he was on bail shall not be so includedF348] .

[F349 (6A)Where a person has been arrested under section 46A above (other than in a case within subsection (1ZA) or (1ZB) of that section) the period of 3 hours beginning with the time at which the person arrives at a police station following the arrest is not to be included as part of any period of police detention which falls to be calculated in relation to the person under this Part of this Act.F349]

(7)Where a person who was released on bail[F350 under this PartF350] subject to a duty to attend at a police station is re-arrested, the provisions of this Part of this Act shall apply to him as they apply to a person arrested for the first time [F351; but this subsection does not apply to a person who is arrested under section 46A above or has attended a police station in accordance with the grant of bail (and who accordingly is deemed by section 34(7) above to have been arrested for an offence) F352 or to a person to whom section 46ZA(4) or (5) applies.F351]

(8)M29In the Magistrates’ Court Act 1980—

(a)the following section shall be substituted for section 43—

“43 Bail on arrest

(1)Where a person has been granted bail under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 subject to a duty to appear before a magistrates’ court, the court before which he is to appear may appoint a later time as the time at which he is to appear and may enlarge the recognizances of any sureties for him at that time.

(2)The recognizance of any surety for any person granted bail subject to a duty to attend at a police station may be enforced as if it were conditioned for his appearance before a magistrates’ court for the petty sessions area in which the police station named in the recognizance is situated.”; and

(b)the following subsection shall be substituted for section 117(3)—

“(3)Where a warrant has been endorsed for bail under subsection (1) above—

(a)where the person arrested is to be released on bail on his entering into a recognizance without sureties, it shall not be necessary to take him to a police station, but if he is so taken, he shall be released from custody on his entering into the recognizance; and

(b)where he is to be released on his entering into a recognizance with sureties, he shall be taken to a police station on his arrest, and the custody officer there shall (subject to his approving any surety tendered in compliance with the endorsement) release him from custody as directed in the endorsement.”.

Definitions used in section 47 1

applicable bail period

(1) In this Part the “applicable bail period”, in relation to a person, means—

(a)in an FCA case, HMRC case, NCA case or SFO case , the period of 6 months beginning with the person’s bail start date, or

(b) in any other case , the period of 3 months beginning with the person’s bail start date.

Defined in s.47ZB(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 47 6

London Borough of Hackney v Williams & Anor

[2017] EWCA Civ 26 · 26 January 2017

The court identified section 47 as the statutory basis for imposing and varying bail conditions (see para [41]). The court confirmed that the police could vary the bail conditions (see para [41]). The court confirmed that the parents could apply to a magistrates’ court to vary their bail conditions (see para [41]).

Williamson v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police

[2003] EWCA Civ 337 · 21 February 2003Limits

Release on bail under Part IV is tied to the Bail Act provisions governing criminal proceedings. It supplies no power to bail a person detained solely for breach of the peace. (see para [15])

Manchester Police, R (On the Application Of) v Hookway & Anor

[2011] EWHC 1578 (Admin) · 19 May 2011Limits

The court held that section 47(6) requires previous detention to be counted in a period that falls to be calculated, but cannot revive an expired period or alter section 44(3)’s express limits. (see paras [13], [25]-[26])

What each judgment says about section 47 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

28 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F328Words in s. 47(1) substituted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 28, 336, Sch. 2 para. 6(2); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(c)
  2. F329Words in s. 47(1) substituted (10.4.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 27(1)(a); S.I. 1995/721, art. 2, Sch.
  3. F330S. 47(1A) inserted (10.4.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 27(1)(b); S.I. 1995/721, art. 2, Sch.
  4. F331Words in s. 47(1A) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 61(4), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 13
  5. F332S. 47(1B)-(1F) inserted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 28, 336, Sch. 2 para. 6(4); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(c)
  6. F333Word in s. 47(1B) omitted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 61(5), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 13
  7. F334Words in s. 47(1B) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 10, 53, Sch. 6 para. 11; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(i) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
  8. F335Word in s. 47(1C) omitted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 61(5), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 13
  9. F336Words in s. 47(1C) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 10, 53, Sch. 6 para. 11; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(i) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
  10. F337Words in s. 47(2) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 65(6), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 17 (with reg. 5)
  11. F338Words in s. 47(3) substituted (30.9.1998 for the purposes specified in S.I. 1998/2327, art. 3(2), Sch. 2 and otherwise 1.11.1999) by 1998 c. 37, s. 46(1); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 3(2), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1999/2976, art. 2
  12. F339S. 47(3)(a)-(c) substituted for s. 47(3)(a) (1.4.2007 for specified purposes, 14.11.2008 for specified purposes, 3.10.2011 for specified purposes, 8.10.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 46(5)(a), 53(1); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(n) (with art. 6); S.I. 2008/2785, art. 2; S.I. 2011/2144, art. 2(1)(b); S.I. 2012/2373, art. 2(b)
  13. F340S. 47(3)(b)(i)(ii) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), s. 208(5)(y), Sch. 20 para. 4(4)
  14. F341Words in s. 47(3)(c) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 64(6), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 16 (with reg. 5)
  15. F342S. 47(3A) inserted (30.9.1998 for the purposes specified in S.I. 1998/2327, art. 3(2), Sch. 2 and otherwise 1.11.1999) by 1998 c. 37, s. 46(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 3(2), Sch. 2; S.I. 1999/2976, art. 2.
  16. F343Words in s. 47(3A)(b) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 283; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)
  17. F344S. 47(4A)-(4E) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 64(7), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 16 (with reg. 5)
  18. F345S. 47(5) repealed (10.4.1995) by 1994 c. 33, ss. 29(4)(c)(5), 168(3), Sch. 11; S.I. 1995/721, art. 2, Sch. Appendix B
  19. F346Words in s. 47(6) substituted (10.4.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 29(4)(d)(5); S.I. 1995/721, art. 2, Sch.
  20. F347Words in s. 47(6) inserted (20.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 12, 336, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 10(a); S.I. 2004/81, art. 2(1)(2)(a)
  21. F348Words in s. 47(6) inserted (retrospectively) by Police (Detention and Bail) Act 2011 (c. 9), s. 1(1)(3)
  22. F349S. 47(6A) inserted (28.10.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), s. 208(1), Sch. 4 para. 36 (with s. 45(3)); S.I. 2022/1075, reg. 4(b)
  23. F350Words in s. 47(7) inserted (20.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 12, 336, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 10(b); S.I. 2004/81, art. 2(1)(2)(a)
  24. F351Words in s. 47(7) inserted (10.4.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 29(4)(e)(5); S.I. 1995/721, art. 2, Sch.
  25. F352Words in s. 47(7) inserted (1.4.2007 for specified purposes, 14.11.2008 for specified purposes, 3.10.2011 for specified purposes, 8.10.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 46(5)(b), 53(1); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(n) (with art. 6); S.I. 2008/2785, art. 2; S.I. 2011/2144, art. 2(1)(b); S.I. 2012/2373, art. 2(b)

Modifications

  1. C437S. 47 applied (with modifications) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 24B(5)(c) (as inserted (29.6.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 18(1), 53 (with s. 18(2)); S.I. 2007/1614, art. 2(e))
  2. C438S. 47(3) excluded (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 88(1)(b), 336; S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 5 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2)

Marginal citations

  1. M291980 c. 43.