A copy of your RUI policy

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.025709

I note you seek access to the following information:

Copy of your RUI policy

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

The following relevant extracts have been taken from the ‘Pre-charge Investigative Bail Policy’. There is no separate policy relating to those ‘Released under Investigation’.

Release a suspect without bail while still under investigation

Investigating officer's responsibilities

If, following your discussion with your supervisor / line manager, the necessity and proportionality criteria aren’t met:
• release the suspect without bail
• tell the custody officer to start the release process.

Tell the suspect they’re being released without bail, but still under investigation and liable to further arrest or questioning under caution if:
• further evidence becomes known or available, or
• existing evidence is examined, which could not reasonably have been achieved before their initial release without bail.

Tell the person that their biometric data (fingerprints, photographs, DNA samples) will be held by the police whilst they’re still under investigation.

Add to the suspect’s PNC record that they have been released without bail, but still under investigation.

Update the Victim / Witnesses as per the Victims’ Code of Practice policy / guidance.”

Changing a suspect's status from ‘On bail’ to ‘Released under investigation

Investigating officer's responsibilities

If you wish to change a suspect’s status from ‘On bail’ to ‘Released under investigation’, you must seek the authority of an officer not below the rank of Inspector to authorise such a change.

You must record your rationale for making such a decision, the authorising officer’s details along with date and time the authority was given. These details must be recorded on the CRIS DETS pages.

Finally, you must also inform the custody suite so they can amend the NSPIS record associated with the suspect. This will ensure that the suspect’s status within the PNC is also correct.”

Informing suspects as to the progression of investigation

Investigating officer's responsibilities

Any suspect, who is:
• on bail,
• released under investigation (RUI) or
• has been subject to a voluntary attendance interview (VA)

must be updated with the progression of the investigation by the Investigating Officer every 28 days.

The fact that they were informed must be recorded on CRIS, or on the HOLMES system if being used to record and manage the investigation. This must include details of the time and method of communication as well as any relevant response. The suspect and their legal representative must be informed every 28 days from the time they were released on pre-charge bail, released under investigation or from the date they were subject to a VA interview. If the suspect has attended under VA then the fact they have been informed of the 28 day update must be included on the VA1 form and subsequently uploaded to COPA.