The suspect, who was 38 at the time, was arrested on suspicion of taking indecent photos of young girls at a bus station in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 13 August 2012.

At the time, police said he had been seen taking pictures of the children using a mobile phone.

A member of the public initially reported the man to security staff at the bus station.

West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels today told Amateur Photographer: ‘His bail, with conditions, has been extended while further enquiries are carried out.’

Asked why the police investigation has taken so long, the spokesman replied: ‘Further enquiries are going to be carried out… enquiries sometimes take that length of time.’

Police declined to say whether tests on the man’s phone have been completed, or if they have identified the person who initially reported suspicions to a security official at the bus station.

‘I won’t discuss details of the investigation… I have no further comment to make,’ Ewels added.

The force has also refused to publicly release a date that the man is next due to appear at a police station, citing security reasons, in accordance with West Mercia Police policy.

The suspect had previously been rebailed until May.

Earlier this year, The Law Society
called for a ‘28-day limit’ on police bail, after figures obtained by the BBC showed
that more than 57,000 people were on bail in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland.