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| Bail for crime suspects reviewed | Bail for crime suspects reviewed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A review of bail laws is to be launched later, following concern about crimes committed by suspects released while they await trial. | A review of bail laws is to be launched later, following concern about crimes committed by suspects released while they await trial. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw will announce the consultation to MPs. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw will announce the consultation to MPs. |
| A "general right" to bail is enshrined in current laws, but the Ministry of Justice wants to tighten up the rules on granting bail in some cases. | A "general right" to bail is enshrined in current laws, but the Ministry of Justice wants to tighten up the rules on granting bail in some cases. |
| It follows the case of Garry Weddell, a policeman who killed his mother-in-law while on bail for his wife's murder. | It follows the case of Garry Weddell, a policeman who killed his mother-in-law while on bail for his wife's murder. |
| Weddell killed his wife Sandra at their Bedfordshire home, before he shot her mother and then killed himself. | Weddell killed his wife Sandra at their Bedfordshire home, before he shot her mother and then killed himself. |
| He had been released because the judge felt he did not pose a risk to the public. | He had been released because the judge felt he did not pose a risk to the public. |
| The high-profile case is understood to have drawn Mr Straw's attention to the subject. | The high-profile case is understood to have drawn Mr Straw's attention to the subject. |
| The Conservatives launched their own review of bail in February which is due to report shortly. The government review was announced earlier this year. | The Conservatives launched their own review of bail in February which is due to report shortly. The government review was announced earlier this year. |
| Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said: "Conservatives set out proposals months ago to tighten the bail laws, including reversing the presumption of bail for murder and other very serious offences, and making breach of bail conditions an offence. | Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said: "Conservatives set out proposals months ago to tighten the bail laws, including reversing the presumption of bail for murder and other very serious offences, and making breach of bail conditions an offence. |
| "The question is why it has taken the government so long to follow our lead when Gordon Brown promised a review in January? | "The question is why it has taken the government so long to follow our lead when Gordon Brown promised a review in January? |
| "Public safety must come first, and any suggestion that human rights laws could be an impediment to sensible and necessary safeguards must be challenged decisively." | "Public safety must come first, and any suggestion that human rights laws could be an impediment to sensible and necessary safeguards must be challenged decisively." |