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Bail bandits carry out 120 crimes every day: More than 5,500 violent offences could have been prevented if suspects were in custody

45,000 offences were committed by criminals on bail for another offence
Victims groups warn that crimes committed on bail could undermine the justice system

By Jack Doyle

PUBLISHED: 01:01, 4 January 2013 | UPDATED: 07:32, 4 January 2013

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More than 120 people a day fall victim to a crime committed by a �bail bandit� who could have been behind bars.

Last year more than 45,000 offences were committed by criminals arrested for another offence but let loose on the streets by a judge before trial.

If they had been remanded into custody, more than 5,500 violent crimes and 4,800 burglaries would have been prevented as well as nearly 1,600 robberies and 300 sex offences.
Bail bandit: Last year more than 45,000 offences were committed by criminals arrested for another offence but let loose on the streets by a judge before trial (file picture)

Bail bandit: Last year more than 45,000 offences were committed by criminals arrested for another offence but let loose on the streets by a judge before trial (file picture)

Victims groups warned that crimes committed on bail could �seriously undermine� confidence in the justice system.

Javed Khan, chief executive of Victim Support, said: �These crimes are particularly serious because they show a flagrant disregard for the law by suspects who should be on their best behaviour.

'It is not appropriate for all those awaiting trial to be placed on remand, but it is necessary where a defendant is likely to commit further offences or not turn up to court.

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�The safety of victims and the public is crucial.�

The crimewave by bail bandits last year amounted to 45,388 offences, figures published in Parliament show.

In the 12 months to March 2012, 4,865 burglaries � the equivalent of 13 every day � were committed by criminals on bail over separate charges.

They also carried out 5,746 violent crimes, 1,593 robberies, 6,272 drugs offences and 300 sex offences.
Freed to kill: Leon Elcock, then 15, was one of two youths who killed Ekram Haque, 67, outside a mosque in Tooting, south London, in August 2009, having been bailed for another assault five days earlier

Freed to kill: Leon Elcock, then 15, was one of two youths who killed Ekram Haque, 67, outside a mosque in Tooting, south London, in August 2009, having been bailed for another assault five days earlier

Most of the offences, 20,072, related to the theft and handling of stolen goods.

The rest were 978 fraud and forgery crimes, 276 serious motoring offences, 999 crimes of criminal damage and more than 4,000 listed as �other�.

Earlier this year official figures revealed that more than one in ten murders is committed by a criminal released on bail for another crime.

Over five years more than 350 killings were carried out by bail bandits.

It means that more than one violent death a week could have been prevented if the suspect had been locked up instead of being let out.

Leon Elcock, then 15, was one of two youths who killed Ekram Haque, 67, in a �happy-slap� assault outside a mosque in Tooting, south London, in August 2009.

Elcock, who admitted manslaughter, had been bailed five days earlier for a separate assault.

Worryingly, courts have been instructed to let out more alleged criminals instead of placing them on remand.

Changes contained within former Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke�s sentencing law are expected to mean thousands more alleged offenders are left at large.

Judges will no longer be allowed to remand in custody anyone whose crime will not lead to a jail term if they are found guilty.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said prosecutors had recently been given powers to challenge Crown Court bail decisions �where they feel a potentially dangerous prisoner could be bailed�.

The Magistrates or Judges that make the decision to allow bail, when this is opposed by the Police, should be held financially responsible for the consequences. After all if any other professional person, an accountant, a lawyer or a Doctor makes a decision which has adverse consequences for others, they are usually held to account - BY A JUDGE!

The word that is no missing from the ENGLISH language is ACCOUNTABILITY, until it returns, which it wont, there will be no change.
British people will have to take the law into their own hands and deal with criminals themselves after all there is no one in power who is going to look after YOUR rights.