Upon the apprehension of any person charged with an offence which may be competently tried before a court of summary jurisdiction other than the sheriff court, it shall be lawful for the chief constable, or other officer of police having charge in the absence of the chief constable at any police office or station, to accept bail or deposit, by a surety or by such person, that such person shall appear for trial before such court, or before the sheriff court, at some time and place to be specified, and at all subsequent diets of court and to liberate the person so apprehended upon bail being found to an amount not exceeding £20 or upon the deposit of any money or article of value to the amount of the bail fixed.

On acceptance of deposit under the foregoing subsection the chief constable or other officer of police shall immediately enter the same in a book to be kept for the purpose, and grant an acknowledgment for the money or article so deposited, in which acknowledgment the time and place fixed for the accused's appearance shall be set forth.

The chief constable or other officer of police may refuse, in any such case as aforesaid, if he see cause, to accept bail or deposit; and such refusal, and the detention of the person so apprehended until his case is tried in the usual form, shall not subject the chief constable or other officer of police to any claim for damages, wrongous imprisonment, or claim of any other kind whatsoever.

It shall be lawful to liberate any such person as aforesaid without bail, or to discharge him, if the chief constable or other officer deem it proper so to do.

If any person fails to appear in redemption of his bail or deposit under this section, it may be forfeited and warrant may be granted for his apprehension.