On May 31st, we mark the 15th anniversary of the Winterbourne View scandal. At the time, the world promised “never again.” Yet, as someone who survived three years of detention in similar settings, Rightful Lives admin, Alexis Quinn, is here to tell you that for many, “never again” was a hollow promise.
The data from 2026 is staggering:
 A 152% increase in the detention of autistic people since 2015.
 A “Stuck” Population: Those with learning disabilities are still being detained for 10, 15, or 20 years.
 Ongoing Abuse: From Edenfield to St Andrew’s and the horrors exposed in the Patient 11 podcast, the culture of locked wards remains broken.
The Legislative Stalling Point: While the new Mental Health Act has received Royal Assent, the Government is hiding behind a “switch on” clause. They refuse to enact these life-saving changes until “sufficient” community support is in place—yet they have provided no roadmap, no funding, and no definition of what “sufficient” actually looks like.
The Risk of Inaction:Â Without a community roadmap, we aren’t “transforming care”; we are just shifting the trauma. We are seeing a rise in “trans-institutionalisation,” where autistic people are pushed into forensic pathways, the criminal justice system, or left homeless in unregulated, restrictive settings.
It is too much to ask for a home, not a hospital?
At Rightful Lives, we are demanding an urgent, funded roadmap for community support. No more “learning lessons.” We need action.
Click on the link below to watch our video and hear why we cannot wait any longer.
Video: 15 Years Since Winterbourne View: Why are the numbers still rising? Â
