We are shocked by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Cheshire West definition of deprivation of liberty a ruling which, for over a decade, has helped protect the rights of people with learning disabilities and autistic people. The Cheshire West judgement established an important legal test for determining when someone may be deprived of their liberty and therefore entitled to specific legal safeguards.

At Skills for People, we believe safeguards are not simply processes or paperwork. They are vital protections that help ensure people’s freedoms, wishes, rights and voices are properly considered.

While the full implications of the judgement are still emerging, we share the concerns being raised across the sector. We share the deep concerns being raised across the sector about the potential impact this judgement could have on people who rely on those protections. We do not want some of the most vulnerable people in society being left behind, overlooked, or having reduced access to independent scrutiny and safeguards.

People with learning disabilities and autistic people deserve the same rights, protections and freedoms as everybody else. Any move that risks weakening those safeguards must be approached with extreme caution.

As an organisation rooted in self-advocacy, lived experience and co-production, we will continue to stand alongside people, families and communities to ensure rights, voice and choice remain central to decision-making.

Rights matter. Voices matter. Safeguards matter.

#LearningDisability #Autism #HumanRights #MentalCapacityAct #SelfAdvocacy #CoProduction #SkillsForPeople