Abortion law in England and Wales has changed following reforms that remove criminal penalties for women who end their own pregnancies. The changes, approved as part of recent legislation, mean women can no longer be prosecuted under historic laws for terminating a pregnancy outside the existing medical framework.
The reform relates to provisions within theOffences Against the Person Act 1861and theInfant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, which previously allowed for criminal charges, including life imprisonment, in certain circumstances. While the Abortion Act 1967 continues to govern how abortion services are provided, the legal risk for women themselves has now been removed.
The government and healthcare organisations have emphasised that the change does not alter when or how abortions can legally be carried out by medical professionals. Instead, it addresses whether women should face criminal prosecution in relation to their own pregnancies. Claims circulating online suggesting the reform allows unrestricted access to abortion at any stage have not been supported by the legislation.
Under previous legislation, abortion remained a criminal offence unless it met specific criteria under the1967 Act. This included requirements such as approval from two doctors and treatment taking place in authorised settings.
Policy briefingsfrom organisations including theBritish Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)state that women could face investigation or prosecution if they ended a pregnancy outside these conditions, including cases involvingmedication obtained online.Data cited in recent briefingsindicated that several women had appeared in court in the past year in connection with suspected abortion-related offences. BPAS said the cases highlighted how existing laws had been applied in recent years.
The new legal position removes the application of these criminal penalties to women in relation to their own pregnancies, while leaving the wider legal structure intact.
Despite the change, the existing regulatory system for abortion services remains unchanged. The Abortion Act 1967 continues to set out the legal conditions under which procedures can take place.
🚨 ABORTION DECRIMINALISED FOR WOMEN IN ENGLAND AND WALES.England and Wales have removed women from criminal liability for ending a pregnancy. The change comes through updates to the Crime and Policing Bill. It means women can no longer face investigation or prosecution for…pic.twitter.com/pQDuTt8tJ3
This includes a general time limit of 24 weeks in most cases, alongside requirements for clinical oversight. Telemedicine provisions introduced in recent years, including access to early medical abortion, also remain subject to established limits and safeguards.
Healthcare providers must still comply with these rules, and any professional who carries out procedures outside the legal framework may face prosecution. Non-consensual abortion, including cases involving coercion or violence, also remains a criminal offence at any stage.
Source: International Business Times UK
