Police defend bailing of Dale Cregan Greater Manchester's Chief Constable today said it was "absolutely normal" for police to have bailed the man who now faces accusations that he killed two unarmed policewomen. Constables Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, had been sent to investigate what appeared to be a routine burglary report when they were attacked yesterday with a gun and a grenade. Soon afterwards one of the country's most wanted men, Dale Cregan, 29, gave himself up to police. It emerged last night that Cregan was arrested in June in connection with another murder but was released on bail pending further inquiries. Commenting today Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said in a statement: "It is absolutely normal in the course of complex crime inquiries that when people are arrested there are occasions where there is insufficient evidence available for them to be charged. In those circumstances suspects have to be released on bail as there are strict time limits covering how long suspects can be held in custody without charge. That is exactly what happened in this case.