THE push towards curbing the growing police tendency to arrest someone and then kick the case into the long grass in the hope of some magic evidence popping up is to be welcomed.

The issue of keeping suspects on bail has gained prominence because of the arrests of celebrities on historical sexual abuse allegations and journalists, when the cases then dissipated many months later.

But this is not about fading stars or national reporters. This is about the real people in the community who do not see on occasion anything like a swift course of justice.

Most notably at the moment, there are two men on bail following the attempted robbery of a jeweller’s in the Covered Market in Easter last year. One of the alleged robbers died in that incident and his inquest was held in August. The two other suspects have been bailed again since then until November.

The death will have been a complicating factor, but there is a legitimate question to be asked as to why no decision about the progress on this case will been be made until 19 months after the incident, at the earliest.

For everyone involved – the suspects and the victims – this has been hanging over them for a year-and-a-half. The police have to investigate thoroughly, but has this length of time really been necessary?

While the debate over seemingly never-ending bail has concentrated on the suspects, today the mother of two boys who were sexually abused tells us it is horrific for the victims.

In her case the abuser had already served jail time for abuse after being caught by Thames Valley Police, yet this second set of cases took about four years to bring to conclusion and he was on bail for two-and-a-half years. The police have a job to do, but they must avoid unnecessary anguish for those already hurt.