National Blitz On Defendants Skipping Bail
17 Jan 2005
The local blitzes will run at different times around England and Wales so defendants with a Fail to Appear (FTA) warrant won't know when they might get a knock on the door. Posters, leaflets and letters are already warning them of the crackdown and asking them to surrender on their own accord.
The Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, launching Operation Turn-up in Wakefield, West Yorkshire on Friday, said:
"We are cracking down on bail bandits. We will not tolerate people who skip bail. My message today is that if you don't turn up at court when you are meant to, the justice system will track you down to face justice. My advice to those who have skipped bail is to surrender now rather than wait for the police to come and get you.
"Nearly one in eight of those bailed fail to turn up in court. This disrupts the course of justice, causes delays in the court process and inconveniences victims and witnesses.
"Local Criminal Justice Boards are already implementing measures to secure defendant attendance in the first place. For example, the police and courts are ensuring that defendants given bail understand the consequences of failing to appear. In some areas, defendants are also being sent reminders via phone when their court date is imminent.
"Operation Turn-up will complement these efforts. It will reduce outstanding warrants and help local criminal justice boards achieve their wider aims of bringing more offences to justice and increasing public confidence in the Criminal Justice System".
Chris Leslie, Courts minister at the Department of Constitutional Affairs, said:
"Compliance with court orders is not optional. Offenders appearing in court when they are ordered to is not only part of the criminal process, but also vital if the courts are to be respected.
"The blitzes, as part of Operation Turn-up, will send a clear message to anyone looking to skip bail, that the courts and the police will show that the justice system does work for the benefit of the wider public and that it can raise trust in justice through doing a good job."
Baroness Scotland, Home Office minister for Criminal Justice, said:
"For justice to be done it is vital that trials go ahead on time and that key people turn up at court. We have already introduced a range of measures to support victims and witnesses so that they can give their evidence successfully. Now it is time to remind defendants that they cannot escape justice by ignoring court orders"
Robert Taylor, Assistant Chief Constable Greater Manchester Police and ACPO lead on warrants said:
"We have been working closely with our criminal justice partners on the planning of this operation, and everyone involved is committed to making sure that defendants who abscond on bail are dealt with robustly. Our message to defendants is clear - if you are wanted on warrant in any of our force areas, give yourself up before we come and find you."
During Operation Turn-up defendants with outstanding FTA warrants who are found at home will be escorted straight to court. At court they should be dealt with according to the Practice Direction issued by the Lord Chief Justice in January 2004. For instance they may be tried straight away for failing to surrender, and may receive a separate sentence for the FTA offence.
Turn-up is not just a short term focus on defendants who have skipped bail. It heralds a clear change in how FTA offences are dealt with, and applies just as much to defendants considering skipping bail in the first place. The message is clear - from now on, defendants skipping bail will be dealt with robustly and immediately.