13. Not given bail
If I’m not given bail by the police, they will explain the reasons why and where I will stay.
You may be refused police bail if the police are not certain where you live, or if you’ve been charged with a very serious offence like murder. They will always explain why you’ve been refused bail and you’re not free to go.
Your local authority and Youth Justice Service (YJS) must try to find a safe and secure space for you (for example, with a relative, in foster care or in a children’s home). If they cannot find a space, you will stay at the police station. This is called staying in police custody.
The police will explain the rules that you have to follow and what will happen if you do not. They will also tell you whether you’ve temporarily become a ‘looked-after child’ and what this means.
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