Re: retention ... for general crime
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Police bail is limited to 28 days
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Gosh, you seem to have believed the propaganda. Police bail can last for years, or even the rest of the person's life. Because firstly a senior police officer can and will routinely extend bail to 3 months, and a friendly magistrate can be relied upon to extend it indefinitely if a policeman says it is necessary. Anyone suspected of an offence where digital evidence must be obtained (e.g. a computer or phone must undergo forensic examination) are routinely placed on police bail for at least 6 months, and often for a year or more. Remember that the police can now impose conditions on their bail, which can be pretty onerous (though if police bail conditions are broken there's not much the police can do about it).