Exclusive: ‘Outdated abortion law also means women who have experienced unexplained pregnancy loss may be vulnerable to criminal investigation,’ Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president warns. Britain is on the verge of convicting as many women for illegal abortions in 18 months as it has for the previous 55 years, as the number of prosecutions continues to rise.
Data from leading UK abortion provider British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) shows three women were convicted of having an illegal abortion between 1967 and 2022 in England and Wales, but in the last 18 months alone, six women have been prosecuted over suspected abortion offences.
Of the six prosecutions, three cases were dropped. But one woman was sent to prison and two cases are awaiting trial, BPAS revealed. Meanwhile, co-chair of the British Society of Abortion Care Providers, Dr Jonathan Lord, says he is aware of at least 60 criminal inquiries into suspected illegal abortions in England and Wales since 2018.
The new statistics come as MPs are set to vote on an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill next month that would see pregnancy terminations wholly decriminalised in England and Wales. Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, told The Independent they are aware a “small but increasing number of women are being prosecuted” for pregnancy terminations as she called for abortion to be decriminalised.
