Abortion laws in England and Wales could be set for a major shake-up as MPs debate decriminalisation in the Commons today. With the possibility of women no longer facing prosecution for ending a pregnancy, we want to know where you stand
A law change aimed at decriminalising abortion will be debated in the House of Commons later today – and we want to know your feelings on the matter.
It comes amid spiralling concern that more and more women are being investigated by police on suspicion of illegally ending a pregnancy. MPs are set to vote on decriminalising terminations after 24 weeks with or without approval from doctors in England and Wales, meaning women will no longer face prosecution. But do you think abortion should be decriminalised? Take our poll below.
The proposed changes follow Labour MP Stella Creasy’s e-petition, which has racked up more than 103,000 signatures since its launch in December last year. It stated: “I am calling on the UK government to remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion.”
The petition also highlighted that the UK is not aligned with guidance issued by the World Health Organization in 2022, which recommends removing medically unnecessary obstacles to safe abortion, such as criminalisation. The proposed changes are reportedly widely supported, and MPs have now been granted a free vote on the matter – meaning they are not required to follow a party line when casting their vote.
As it stands, all abortions after 24 weeks are illegal, with exception of limited circumstances. This includes the mother’s life being at risk, or if the child were to be born with a severe disability. Do you think abortion should be decriminalised? Take our poll below. If you can’t see it, click here
The Abortion Act was introduced to Great Britain in 1967, and allowed women to legally terminate a pregnancy up to 28 weeks with the certification of two doctors. In 1990, the limit was changed to 24 weeks. This means that a woman who undergoes an abortion without the permission of two doctors – for example, by buying abortion pills online – can be charged with a criminal offence.
The Act states that abortions must be carried out either in a hospital or licensed clinic. However, this was changed during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when at-home abortion pills were made available by post for people seeking to terminate their pregnancy in the first 10 weeks.
So what are the proposed changes?
Labour MP Tonia Antonizzi is calling for an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill in her attempts to decriminalise abortion at any stage by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy. Consequently ending the threat of investigation or imprisonment. Access to abortion would remain the same, as would time limits in healthcare settings, and patients would still need sign off by two doctors.
Antoniazzi told the BBC: “The police cannot be trusted with abortion law – nor can the CPS or the wider criminal justice system. My amendment to the crime and policing bill will give us the urgent change we need to protect women.”
Katherine O’Brien, a spokesperson for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, previously told The Mirror: “In recent years, more than 100 women are believed to have been investigated by the police.”
Labour MP Stella Creasy told the Mirror that “decriminalisation isn’t enough” and is putting forward a second amendment to make a woman’s access to an abortion a human right. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle will decide whether to select one or both amendments for a vote today.
Do you think abortion should be decriminalised? Take our poll above and expand on your decision in the comments below.
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