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Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019: Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS)

Legislation and guidance on the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) and the latest information on progress towards their implementation.

The Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) were introduced in the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019. LPS will provide protection for people aged 16 and above who are or who need to be deprived of their liberty in order to enable their care or treatment and lack the mental capacity to consent to their arrangements, in England and Wales.

The government has committed to bringing LPS into force to replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

In December 2021, we announced a delay to the implementation of LPS. See the letter to the LPS steering group below.

Written ministerial announcement on LPS implementation date: July 2020

Implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards. Written ministerial statement by Helen Whately MP, Minister of State (Minister for Care)

LPS National Steering Group meetings

Summary of LPS National Steering Group Meeting: May 2022

Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: March 2022

Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: May 2021

Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: February 2021

Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: December 2020

Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: October 2020

Consultation on the MCA Code of Practice, including the LPS

The government has opened a public consultation on proposed changes to the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice, which includes guidance on the new LPS system. The consultation will run for 16 weeks from 17 March 2022.

The consultation is available in Welsh and easy read (Welsh).

Letter to LPS steering group announcing a delay to the implementation of LPS: December 2021

Mental capacity and LPS: legislation and guidance

Published 10 November 2020
Last updated 14 June 2022 + show all updates
  1. Added link to 'Summary of LPS National Steering Group Meeting: May 2022'.

  2. Added link to 'Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: March 2022'.

  3. Added links to the consultation on the proposed changes to the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards.

  4. Added a letter to the LPS steering group announcing a delay to the implementation of the LPS.

  5. Added link to 'Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: May 2021'.

  6. Summary of LPS National Steering Group meetings for February 2021 added

  7. Added link to 'Summary of LPS National Steering Group meeting: December 2020'.

  8. First published.