Problems ahead for those on bail

Published: 8:57 AM November 20, 2008 Updated: 3:55 AM February 23, 2021

At the risk of being seen as soft on crime , may I point out a further consequence of slashing police station hours at Royston. Some people are remanded on conditional bail to report to a police station daily or less frequently in order to ensure that t

At the risk of being seen as "soft on crime", may I point out a further consequence of slashing police station hours at Royston.

Some people are remanded on conditional bail to report to a police station daily or less frequently in order to ensure that they attend court.

They are, of course, innocent until proven guilty, and there may not be many defendants from Royston in this situation.

However, the restriction in opening hours and opening days at the Roystion police station will mean that the bail conditions placed upon Royston residents may require them to incur extra costs to report to alternative police stations in the county and interfere with their ability to earn a living while awaiting trial.

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Presumably in the interests of efficiency, the constabulary considers that it is appropriate for people on bail to report to the police by phone thanks to advances in technology.

I do not think that our community will think that it will be satisfactory.