Unfitness to Plead Consultation Responses - Law Commission ...

determination of jurisdiction as applies in “either way” cases i.e. the
Justices determine whether they are prepared to accept jurisdiction. They
should only do so if, on the available evidence a Hospital Order was
clearly inappropriate. It may be necessary for there to be a power of
committal if it transpired, on the basis of further information not
previously available, the Community Order was insufficient.
Question 8: Do consultees think that the capacity based test which we have
proposed for trial on indictment should apply equally to proceedings which
are triable summarily.
Reply: We consider that this should follow if the magistrates are to be given
jurisdiction to hear issues of unfitness to plead.
Question 9: Do consultees think that if an accused lacks decision-making
capacity there should be a mandatory fact-finding procedure in the
magistrates’ court?
Reply: We consider that this should follow if the magistrates are to be given
jurisdiction to hear issues of unfitness to plead.
Question 10: If consultees think that there should be a mandatory fact-
finding procedure, do they think it should be limited to consideration of the
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