Jane Clough campaign: Bail law loophole closed

Jane Clough was stabbed 71 times outside the hospital where she worked

A change in the bail law prompted by the murder of a Lancashire nurse has received Royal Assent.

Jane Clough, 26, was stabbed by her former partner Jonathan Vass while he was on bail accused of raping her.

An amendment made to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill has allowed prosecutors to appeal against crown court bail rulings.

The amendment follows a campaign by her parents who said challenging Vass's bail would have saved her life.

Previously the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had no right to appeal against crown court bail decisions.

The law change, which is due to take effect in the Autumn, will bring crown courts in line with magistrates' courts where appeals against bail decisions are allowed.

'Extra safeguard'

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said: "Victims of crime deserve peace of mind that they will not be under threat from defendants on bail.

"But we are now adding an extra safeguard. We are giving prosecutors the right to challenge crown court bail decisions when they fear a potentially dangerous defendant may be being bailed."

Mr and Mrs Clough have campaigned for the CPS to challenge bail decisions since their daughter was stabbed 71 times by Vass outside Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2010.

Vass, from Preston, admitted her murder and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years in October 2010.