Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average a National Crime Agency investigation takes before a charging decision is made in cases where a suspect has been released on bail.

The amount of time taken for an investigation and a charging decision to be reached can vary depending on the case and its complexity. The NCA will always look to complete work as quickly as possible. However, NCA cases are by their very nature complex and the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill specifically recognises this in Schedule 4 of the Bill. It makes amendments relating to pre-charge bail and several of the amendments have the effect of recognising NCA cases as ‘exceptionally complex’ and increasing the time limits on pre-charge detention before authorisation must be sought for extensions.