Government Response to the Justice Committee report
The role of adult custodial
remand in the criminal justice system role of
adult custodial remand in the criminal justice system
The Chair of the Justice Committee, Sir MP, has expressed disappointment that the government
has declined to follow its recommendations to undertake reviews
on the operation of the law which determines whether to remand a
person into custody pending their trial (the Bail Act) – and on
the length of time they can be held.
In November 2022, the number of prisoners held on remand reached
approximately 14,700, according to the Ministry of Justice. This
is the highest figure for over 50 years.
However, commenting on the government’s response to
recommendations in its report on remand prisoners which was
published in January, Sir Bob welcomed a commitment to consider
improvements in the support provided to people who are
acquitted.
The full details of the Committee’s recommendations can be found
in its report published on January 17, 2023 here. The government’s
response to those recommendations is published by the Committee
today here.
The Chair of the Justice Committee, Sir MP said:
“The number of people being held on remand is at its highest
for over 50 years.
There are often good reasons for people to be detained in
this way. But everyone is innocent until proven guilty, so it is
disappointing that the government is not doing everything it
possibly can to understand why the numbers on remand are rising,
and how to bring those numbers down.
“On the plus side, however, I’m pleased that the government
has agreed to consider a more level playing field for all
prisoners who have been acquitted as they return to the
community.
It is of course right that prisoners who have been convicted
and served their sentences then get financial and other
assistance on release. But it is manifestly unfair that acquitted
remand prisoners – innocent in the eyes of the law – get
nothing”.
The Justice Committee also said it was also pleased the
government had accepted its recommendation to assess whether the
provision of ‘bail hostels’ was sufficient. These hostels provide
short-term accommodation for people who are eligible for bail but
do not have a suitable address to go to - as well as
accommodation for some other categories of people.
The Committee said it would monitor the situation on all the
recommendations it had made to see if further reports or other
actions became necessary.
