Homicide: Bail

Mr. Duncan Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people charged with (a) murder and (b) crimes of violence were granted bail in the last five years.

Maria Eagle
An estimated 64,800 people were granted bail by the courts for offences included in the ‘violence against the person’ group in England and Wales in 2006 (latest available). This includes those held in custody at some stage during proceedings. Data on bail is not sufficiently robust to permit a more detailed breakdown of the offences involved.