Laws governing assisted suicide must be upheld in UK, Welsh police say

Welsh police officers have defended their decision to investigate a woman who helped a stranger travel and access assisted suicide overseas, saying criminal laws must be upheld.

Retired NHS worker Sue Lawford went to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland with her friend Sharon Johnston, who was in a wheelchair after a fall left her paralysed.

On returning to the UK she complained that police in both Wales and Switzerland wanted to investigate her actions - despite knowing that what she had done was against the law.

Responding to comments in the media, a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "It is a criminal offence in the UK to encourage or assist in the suicide or attempted suicide of another person."

The force added: "The circumstances of such cases increase the risk of vulnerable people being exploited and others making financial gain".

"A thorough criminal investigation is required to establish the facts of each case, requiring action to secure evidence".

Baroness Finlay, a consultant at a cancer hospital in Cardiff, and crossbench Peer in the House of Lords stressed that the police had done the right thing.

"The role of the law has to be to protect everyone who is vulnerable and it has to look to protect the most vulnerable from being pressurised into things that they should somehow end their lives".

"That is the law at the moment and the director of public prosecutions has very clear guidance as to which cases should be pursued and which shouldn't.

"Sadly there are always people who, at a time of something awful happening, feel complete despair. But we know that with appropriate support and help, they come out the other side.

"[People] often can live very well and go to be glad that they are still alive. It is too dangerous to licence a doctor to provide lethal drugs to their patients."