24 murders and 9 rapes in 32 months committed by suspects on bail in just one county...
In two and a half years suspects let out on bail committed 24 murders and 9 rapes in one county alone, it was revealed last night.
The shocking statistics from Lancashire Police caused outrage - with one MP demanding a "far more vigorous system".
The figures showed that people on bail were responsible for 11,171 crimes across Lancashire between January 2007 and September 2009.
As well as the murders and rapes, they included 62 attempted murders, 63 other sexual offences, 45 arsons, 283 robberies, 667 burglaries and 3,100 shoplifting incidents.
Stunned local Tory MP Nigel Evans "The figures are very large indeed. These are obviously people who are repeat offenders."
Calling for a more rigorous system, he added: "They should be kept under lock and key in the future."
Kirk Bullen, of the Make Lancashire Safer charity, said "people are losing faith" in the system.
But police chiefs said far more people were being released on bail, while officers continued investigations and waited for forensic tests.
And Justice Secretary Jack Straw, whose constituency is in Lancashire, said courts were "toughening up" on bail. "They face a difficult decision but they get it right most of the time." he said
Story courtesy of www.policeoracle.com
