The system is in place to help reduce the prison population, allow the possible offender to continue employment, therefore be less of a burden on the state, and of course enable the government to be seen as humanitarian.

Somewhere in all this failing mess is you. If whatever you are arrested for is not seen as a continuing threat to the population, or is low sentence rated, or you are able to be monitored and therefore deterred by that, then the police will bail you out of prison till you go to court.

Bail is set before you leave the police station after arrest. It is as complex or simple as the arresting officer! It may be missing large and important parts, as mine was, but they get the availability with it of dragging you into the station whenever they require you to attend. It can even include loosing monies if surety is demanded against you "running".

It contains your required address and who you cannot visit, see or talk to. Very much at the whim of the wind, but I think far better than remand, for should you feel the possible containment of your life is to be four walls and a toilet in the near future, you can at least sort your life out, prior to the experience.

Make sure you can live with the bail conditions set, or any failure to adhere to them will mean remand at least.