As a resident of Nottingham, I am deeply disturbed by the increasing number of murder cases where justice is not served due to the defence of diminished responsibility. The families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates have been denied justice because their killers were able to use this defence. This is not just an issue in Nottingham but across our country.

Diminished responsibility is often used as a legal defence to reduce sentences for those accused of murder. It allows defendants to argue that they were suffering from an abnormality of mental function at the time, which impaired their ability to understand their actions or know that what they were doing was wrong.

However, this defence can be misused and result in murderers avoiding full accountability for their actions. According to data from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), between 2014-2019 there has been a significant increase in the use of diminished responsibility pleas by defendants charged with murder.

This trend undermines public confidence in our justice system and leaves victims' families feeling like justice has not been served. We need reform now more than ever - we need stricter guidelines on when diminished responsibility can be used as a defence and better support for victims' families navigating these complex legal issues.

Please join me in calling on lawmakers to review and reform how diminished responsibility is applied within our courts. Sign this petition today so we can ensure that every victim's family gets the justice they deserve.