A police boss is calling for a change in the law to allow assisted dying.

Arfon Jones, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, is one of 18 PCCs from across the UK to sign a letter to the Ministry of Justice urging reform on the right to die.

Mr Jones (pictured) is supporting the campaign that has been launched on behalf of Ron Hogg, the Police, Crime and Victims Commissioner for Durham, who has motor neurone disease and wishes for the law to be altered to allow him to end his life.

Mr Hogg is said to be considering going to the Dignitas suicide clinic in Switzerland to shorten the suffering his condition will lead to.

He would prefer to die in Scotland, where he was born, but the current ban on assisted dying means he will have to go overseas.

It could also mean ending his life earlier than he would want, for fear he could be too ill to travel.

Mr Hogg said: “I think the law should allow assisted dying. Clearly you need to have safeguards, but there ought to be a clear path outlined where individuals who would want to choose that route can do so, and can do so legally within the UK.”

A letter to the Ministry of Justice urging reform on the right to die has been co-signed by Mr Jones, who said: “Many will have experienced or heard of cases where the blanket ban on assisted dying has caused distress, confusion and pain for dying people, their loved ones and even the investigating police officers themselves.

“We believe it is time for a renewed look at the functioning of the existing law on assisted dying.

“While there are clearly differences of opinion as to whether or how the law should change, we contend that the law is not working as well as it could and seek an inquiry to confirm that.”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online now