I wish to associate myself with the concerns expressed by Susie Labinjoh in the 2 February Gazette.
I believe strongly that the misuse of police-imposed bail conditions is widespread.
In cases where defendants instruct solicitors, the solicitors can appeal the conditions and we do so.
My greatest concern relates to those bailed for offences where defendants know they will not be eligible for legal aid and so do not instruct solicitors.
An example of this is beggars. In my experience, beggars are bailed by Birmingham police with conditions that the police know would not be upheld by a court. They are back-door criminal behaviour orders which would not pass the Samuda v DPP test.
This is an issue that is being taken up with the West Midlands Police.
Steven Jonas, partner, Jonas Roy Bloom, Birmingham
