Sean Davison was arrested in early July and remains on “Police Bail”. That means he has not yet been charged with any offence but must “surrender” to his police station, probably for further questioning, on the 15th October. His potential charge would be that of Assisting or Encouraging a Suicide under the terms of the Suicide Act 1961.
He had allegedly been helping one-way visitors to Switzerland with the necessary paperwork complexities and also helping with their arrangements in Switzerland itself. If the police become satisfied that such a crime has been committed then they will need to study closely the provisions of the “guidance” from the Director of Public Prosecutions. These say, amongst other provisions, that prosecutions should be considered “unlikely” if the helper had been motivated purely by compassion and if the person being helped had made a “voluntary clear settled and informed decision” to end their lives.
It is therefore too early to say whether or not Sean will actually be prosecuted. The police, however, are clearly taking the allegations very seriously. They are apparently making enquiries in a number of countries and it is unlikely that their decision will be taken until the late Autumn.
Until any case is brought or dropped, Sean will remain deprived of his computers and phone. His family life will remain totally disrupted. The police are in no hurry. As so often in such cases, the process is part of the punishment.
Sean is entitled to legal advice, funded by the UK Government, whilst being questioned in a police station but is not yet legally represented otherwise.
