Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, has welcomed the new interim policy on the offence of assisted suicide, set out this week by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer. 

The DPP has now launched a public consultation exercise to seek the views of everyone who wants to comment. It runs from 23 September until 16 December 2009. 

Speaking from Nelson earlier today, the MP said: “Parliament has failed to grasp the nettle and legislate to make it crystal clear what is law is. The DPP has now stepped into the breach, outlining his interim policy which would guide prosecutors.”

“People, understandably, have very strong views on this. I welcome the DPP’s decision to invite comments on the interim policy and to publish a summary of the responses.” .

Keir Starmer said: “My team shall be considering all the responses that we receive.  After that, I will consider whether, and if so, how to amend the policy. I intend to publish a summary of responses and the final policy on this very sensitive area of the law by 10 March 2010. This will be available on the CPS website: www.cps.gov.uk  

The consultation paper is available on www.cps.gov.uk