Part 2: Prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime Chapter 4: Other provisions Section 45 and Schedule 4: Pre-charge bail Part 2 of Schedule 4: risk factors
Part 2 of Schedule 4 inserts new provisions into sections 30A and 50A of PACE, which introduce a set of risk factors to which constables (in the case of "street bail" under section 30A of PACE) and custody officers (under Part IV of PACE) must have regard in determining whether releasing a person on bail is necessary and proportionate in all the circumstances. This set of factors streamlines and introduces some more consistency into the application of the "necessary and proportionate" test, helping to ensure that suspects are released on bail where appropriate. These provisions include, amongst other factors, the need to safeguard victims of crime and witnesses, as well as the need to prevent offending.