Message #1765

[AndrewF]

The 'summons through the post' issue seems to apply only when someone was released on bail after questioning and charging, but has not been notified of the date of the hearing and the offence is minor. It is in place of getting them back into the cop shop to be summonsed, rather than anything else.
As you say though - it does rather pose the question of what happens if they don't get the letter. I guess the answer is that, since they are on bail, they are supposed to notify the police of their current address (and if they have to move) and, assuming the letter is sent registered (which I think they were expecting to be the case) there should be no question of it not being delivered to the address and the cops not knowing this. If it is delivered to the right address and the perp claims not to have go it, then either he has broken bail conditions, or he is lying (or possibly someone else signed for it and destroyed it - which would probably be cause for them to be charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice...).