The justice minister has announced plans to change the law to allow prosecutors to challenge decisions made by judges in the Crown court to release defendants on bail.

Crispin Blunt said the move will allow decisions to be reviewed in the High Court where prosecutors believe defendants pose a danger to society or are likely to leave the country.

The rule will be created through an amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, currently going through parliament.

Until now there has been no way for Crown court bail decisions to be challenged. The change will bring the Crown court in line with the magistrates’ courts, where appeals against bail decisions are already possible.

Blunt said: ‘As a matter of course, defendants who have committed violent crimes and pose a danger to the public are always remanded in custody while they are awaiting trial. But we know that there have been occasions when offenders have been bailed and have gone on to commit more, and sometimes very serious, crimes.

‘These changes will provide a vital safeguard for the public by allowing prosecutors to challenge Crown court bail decisions when they fear a potentially dangerous defendant may be being bailed.’