Petition · Ministry of Justice

Commission an inquiry into wrongful convictions & the current appeals process

Open for signatures 11 signatures

What the petition asks

The current appeals system provides for errors in law and/or evidence that was not available at trial. We are concerned that many people have been found wrongly convicted after years of imprisonment.
We call on the Government to commission an inquiry into the current appeals system and making changes to reduce wrongful convictions. Many wrongly convicted will never admit guilt to a crime they did not commit and therefore may be ineligible for release on licence. We believe the law must change to help those wrongly convicted. In some cases, there has been lack of evidence, in others a lack of adequate defence.

We want the inquiry to look into ways to ensure those wrongfully convicted can access quick resolutions to their convictions, have sufficient defence teams, and ensuring uniformity in sentencing.

Timeline

21 Aug 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 11
Status Open for signatures
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 21 Aug 2026

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 22 Aug 2026.