Bailed to walk the streets, 60 suspects on murder charges

They represent one in eight - or 13 per cent - of all those facing the charge.

In manslaughter cases the figures are even more dramatic with 35 suspects out on bail, 85 per cent of those charged. Only six are in custody.

Last month Garry Weddell shot dead his mother-in-law while on bail on a charge of killing his wife. He then shot himself.

His case led Gordon Brown to promise a review, saying: 'If any changes in the law are necessary, we will make them.'

Despite the Prime Minister's apparent concern, two weeks later, on January 31, there were 60 murder suspects on bail out of 455 defendants, according to figures revealed under Freedom of Information laws.

Tory justice spokesman Nick Herbert said: "After Garry Weddell murdered his mother-in-law, the Government claimed that it was unusual for bail to be granted to murder suspects.

"Now we discover the disturbing truth that a large number of people charged with murder were in fact free on bail at that time. Tougher bail laws are needed to ensure public safety comes first."

Courts are increasingly encouraged to use bail to ease the jail crisis which has led to the Government officially running out of cells for the first time.

The Tories will today renew demands for an emergency Parliamentary statement on the shambles.

The 'usable operation capacity' - the normal limit for inmate numbers - was exceeded by almost 100 on Friday.

There are 2,000 overflow places, but many of these are in remote locations or otherwise unsuitable.

The crisis is likely to force Justice Secretary Jack Straw to extend the early release programme.

But Downing Street is wary of such a politically-damaging move, and sources say any decision will be delayed until the last possible moment.

Yesterday the Chief Inspector of Prisons said jails were at 'at panic stations' and the situation was 'very risky'.

Anne Owers implied the situation was the fault of successive ministers, adding: "You wouldn't start from here if you wanted to create a decent prison system. This is a result of decisions taken - or not taken - a long time ago."

Mr Straw admitted that finding a suitable prison ship - as promised by Labour more than two years ago - would take time.

Mr Herbert, calling for Mr Straw to appear before MPs, said: "If a prison ship is not ready, what is the Government actually going to do?

"The fear is that they may extend their disastrous early release scheme, which they have refused to rule out.'

The Ministry of Justice said there were 82,068 inmates - 96 over the Prison Service's 'usable operational capacity' - which includes police and court cells.

But a spokesman stressed no prison will be 'expected to operate at a level of crowding beyond that certified' by local managers.

She said bail was an independent judicial decision based on each case, and subject to 'rigorous' conditions including curfews, financial sureties and the surrender of travel documents.

Some 64,800 suspected violent attackers were allowed bail in 2006. Of these, almost one in ten - around 5,500 - did not return to court to face their charges.

Killer a court decided was 'no threat'

Garry Weddell convinced a court that he posed no threat, despite being charged with killing his wife.

While on bail the Metropolitan Police inspector killed his mother-in-law, Traute Maxfield, before shooting himself.

Court papers showed a judge had said it was a ' borderline decision' to bail Weddell last July and had warned him he would be returned to custody for any breaches of his bail conditions.

But on November 2 magistrates in Woking, Surrey, found Weddell had breached one condition by entering Bedfordshire, despite being barred from the county.

But he was allowed to remain free after magistrates said it was only a 'technical breach'.

Two months later he shot dead Mrs Maxfield at her home in Gustard Wood, Hertfordshire.

The bodies of Weddell, 47, and Mrs Maxfield, 70, were found on January 12.

Weddell's brother was later allowed to keep his £200,000 bail bond.

A judge ruled Geoffrey Weddell could not have known his brother would kill himself.