Sir Keir Starmer, who was the UK Director of Public Prosecutions in 2009 when, for the first time, the Crown Prosecution Service announced the criteria for the prosecution – or otherwise — of persons who had assisted a suicide, has been elected Leader of the Labour Party in Britain.
Although the action remains a possible crime under law, at least people now knew where they stood about assisted dying legally.
Labour are not in power in the Westminster parliament, but if and when the subject comes up again (as it has spasmodically ever since l936) perhaps there will be a sympathetic voice?
This is the latest data on assisted suicide in England & Wales:
Update as of 31 January 2020:
From 1 April 2009 up to 31 January 2020, there have been 156 cases referred to the CPS by the police that have been recorded as assisted suicide. Of these 156 cases, 105 were not proceeded with by the CPS and 31 cases were withdrawn by the police.
There are currently four ongoing cases. Three cases of encouraging or assisting suicide have been successfully prosecuted. One case of assisted suicide was charged and acquitted after trial in May 2015 and nine cases were referred onwards for prosecution for homicide or other serious crime.
Source: CPS Consultation at
https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/suicide-oolicy-prosecutions
