In addition to removing discretion, Crown is reminding that the principle of restraint on holding people in custody is a Supreme Court of Canada human rights ruling. Denying bail must be the exception, not the rule.

Here's part of Crown Prosecution Services's lengthy statement today.

Crown said idea it oppose bail at every hearing for violent repeat offenders is inappropriate. "It has never been the law or the practice in British Columbia or any other province in Canada to require Crown Counsel to apply a blanket policy of seeking detention in every case."

Certainly adds another wrinkle of complexity to the debate at the #bcleg this week over whether Crown prosecutors are opposing bail enough (less than half of violent repeat offender bail hearings, according to new stats). Police can also use discretion to release people.

Interesting reply from BC's Crown Prosecution Service today to two cases raised by BC United in QP today (man who randomly stabbed someone on Surrey Skytrain and 3 men w/ weapons in a Nanaimo truck). In both cases, release after charges were done by police discretion - not Crown.