How to get bail conditions lifted or changed

If you are suspected of committing a criminal offence, the police may decide to release you on bail. Bail often comes with certain conditions which are overly strict or simply unjust. Contesting or lifting these bail conditions can be possible with the support of our expert criminal defence solicitors.

We are Specialist Solicitors with experience of delaing with varying and lifting Pre Charge Police Bail Conditions.

Where you believe that the conditions of bail in your case are not proportionate or reasonable, our solicitors can advise you on your options and provide practical advice on how best to proceed which includes making an application to the Police to alter or lift bail or your local magistrate court.

Magistrates Court Extension Of Police Bail

JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors can represent you at court to oppose the Police Station's application to extend your bail beyond 9 months. The police can apply to the magistrate's court to extend bail if they meet the criteria to do so. The court can extend bail in appropriate cases beyond 18 or 24 months if the case justifies the imposition of bail or conditions.

At JD Spicer Zeb, our specialist criminal defence solicitors have substantial experience in handling a wide range of criminal cases, including those where bail conditions have been unfairly imposed. We have established a strong reputation for providing the highest standard of legal representation, no matter the surrounding circumstances.

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Speak to our bail condition solicitors now

For a free initial consultation on your legal position and the available options, please call 0207 624 7771.

For urgent advice at any time of day or night, please call our Emergency Number 07836 577 556.

You can also email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk or fill out our quick online enquiry form and we will get back to you quickly.

Why choose JD Spicer Zeb’s conditions of bail solicitors?

No matter what offence you are being investigated for, if you are placed on bail with conditions, said conditions should always be fair and proportionate. If they are not, it is imperative that you receive prompt advice from criminal defence solicitors with experience in handling conditions of bail as soon as possible.

If the police have placed you on pre-charge bail, our dedicated team of solicitors will be on hand to represent your best interests, bringing forward a challenge to the conditions where it is appropriate or necessary to do so.

Being placed on pre-charge bail has the potential to severely limit your freedom, which highlights the importance of receiving prompt advice about your options moving forward.

When instructed, our team can support you with making an application to the Magistrates’ to vary the conditions on your bail. Our advice will prove crucial at this stage, as the courts also have the power to impose stricter conditions where they see fit.

We can also be by your side to lend our support if you wish to challenge the decision made by the Magistrates’, taking a robust case through to the Crown Court where required.

As a testament to our commitment to client care and focus, much of our work comes from referrals and recommendations from previous clients who have been satisfied with the work we have delivered.

Common questions about police bail in the UK

What is bail?

Bail, also referred to as pre-charge bail, means that the police have released someone they are investigating in order to gather further evidence before they make a final charging decision.

Bail is usually granted by a police officer following an arrest or after a voluntary interview has taken place at the police station.

The initial bail period is three months, following a change to the legislation in 2022. Under Schedule 4 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 Standard bail can be extended to six months, and then to nine months by a Superintendent. If the police wish to extend bail any further, this needs to be done through the Magistrates’ Court.

The changes in legislation were introduced to encourage the use of pre-charge bail wherever it is ‘necessary and appropriate’ to do so, and to reduce the number of suspects who are released under investigation.

What are bail conditions?

Bail conditions are usually imposed by the police when they consider the prospect of granting unconditional bail is too risky. This may be because the police are worried that you may flee, or will interfere with any witnesses that are relevant to the case.

Conditions of bail that are imposed must be considered to be reasonable and capable of being easily enforced.

The exact police bail conditions that will be imposed vary from case to case, but they will often include measures such as:

Having to report to the police station at specified times
Forfeiting your passport to prevent foreign travel
Having a curfew in place but not electronically monitored
Being unable to contact certain people or your co suspects
Being made to reside at a certain address
Being unable to go to a specific location (e.g. an alleged victim’s place of work)
Not going to work in a certain role
Attending a certain appointment

What happens when bail expires?

If the police release you on pre-charge bail, bail expires when the police either charge you with a crime, or release you with without charge.

Where you are released on bail by the court, the bail ends when the case is dropped, you are found not guilty, or you are found guilty and are sentenced.

Can bail conditions be changed?

It may be possible to have bail with conditions changed. Whether the police have placed you in bail, or the courts have placed you on bail, it will usually be possible to make an application to have them removed.

It should be noted that the police will not have the power themselves to vary bail conditions that the court have made. Only the courts can deal with these matters.

No matter the circumstances, changes to bail conditions will never be automatically granted. An application will always be thoroughly reviewed before a final decision is made.

How do you get bail conditions changed?

The process for having bail conditions changed will depend on the type of bail you are subject to.

If you are on police bail, it may be possible to attend the police station where you were originally bailed where a request can be made to the Custody Officer to vary the conditions. If this request is refused, an application can be made to the Magistrates’ Court.

If you are on court bail, an application needs to be made to the Magistrates’. If this is not successful, a further application can be made to the Crown Court.

Can bail conditions be dropped?

The police and courts have the power to drop bail conditions altogether if they see fit. For example, they may no longer feel it is necessary for a condition to apply, such as restricting you to living at a specific address.

Given how long you could potentially be on bail for, the police or courts could review the conditions at any time and make changes which accommodate certain changes to your life.

What happens if you breach police imposed bail conditions pre charge?

If you breach police bail in the UK, the police can arrest you and you will usually need to attend a court hearing within 24 hours. The courts may then decide to refuse any subsequent bail applications. This only applies if the police have enough evidence to charge you with the original offence. This is because there must be a charge in court for the police to keep you in custody. If they are not ready to charge you then you will be rebailed.

If you interfere with witnesses or an investigation you could be accused of perverting the course of justice or witness intimidation.

It is possible that you will be charged under the Bail Act 1976 for any breach of bail conditions and if bail is refused you can be remanded in custody until the trial begins. If they do not enough evidence to charge you then they will have to release you on bail. The bail breaches may be used by the police as reasons to refuse bail in the future.

Contact our criminal defence solicitors today

For urgent specialist advice, immediate representation, or to speak to us confidentially about changing and lifting court or police bail conditions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our specialist criminal defence solicitors.

You can contact a member of our dedicated team of criminal defence lawyers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

City of London: 0207 624 7771 - our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the City.
Brent & Camden London Office: 0207 624 7771
Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638
Birmingham Office: 0121 614 3333

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

24/7 criminal defence lawyers & police station representatives

Please get in touch for a free initial consultation subject to certain exceptions with one of our expert criminal defence solicitors, as well as immediate representation and advice related to police bail, as well as breach of bail conditions.

We are available to represent clients all over England and Wales at any time, so please contact our Emergency Number 07836 577 556.