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Reforming fitness to plead and stand trial legislation in England and Wales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2019

Nuwan Galappathie*
Affiliation:
MBChB, MMedSc, MRCPsych, LLM, is a consultant forensic psychiatrist with St Andrew's Healthcare, Birmingham, UK.
Angela Shaw
Affiliation:
BSc, MSc, is a Modern Matron with St Andrew's Healthcare, Birmingham. St Andrew's Healthcare is a charity providing specialist mental healthcare for patients with complex, challenging mental health needs in secure settings in the UK.
*
Correspondence Dr Nuwan Galappathie, St Andrew's Healthcare, Dogpool Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2XR, UK. Email: ngalappathie@standrew.co.uk
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Summary

The legal decision on whether a defendant can fairly take part in a criminal trial in England and Wales is currently based on the leading case of R v Pritchard (1836), which despite subsequent case law updates does not embrace the concept of mental capacity or effectively identify defendants who are unable to meaningfully participate. Further to an extensive consultation process, the Law Commission published recommendations for reform in 2016, with a proposed new test of capacity to participate effectively in a trial and detailed suggestions for statutory reform of court procedures for managing defendants found unable to participate. Here we review the proposals and consider practical implications and suggestions regarding their implementation.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this article you will be able to:

  • appreciate the current problems with the law on fitness to plead in England and Wales

  • understand the proposed test of capacity to participate effectively in a trial

  • understand the proposed changes to the procedures available when a defendant is found unable to participate.

Information

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2019 
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