Huge change to UK abortion laws could stop prosecution after police given power to check period app on women’s phones
MPs are set to vote next week on a decision that could make a huge change to the current UK abortion laws.
The proposed law comes after the very Handmaid’s Tale level news that police in the UK now have the power to look through women's period tracking apps for 'evidence' of illegal abortions.
For those who aren’t caught up, the new guidance was issued by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).
It gives officers who are investigating causes of miscarriages, stillbirths, and unexpected pregnancy losses permission to search women’s houses for abortion drugs.
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And that’s not all - they can even ask to see someone’s mobile phone in cases 'where there is credible information to suggest criminal activity'.
A spokesperson for the NPCC confirmed that the dystopian new rule is to 'establish a woman’s knowledge and intention in relation to the pregnancy'.
This is because abortion remains a criminal offence in England and Wales after 24 weeks of pregnancy, except in certain circumstances, under the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act.
At the moment, terminating a pregnancy can only be legally allowed after the usual time limit if there’s evidence of severe foetal anomaly or a significant risk to your life.
And even when you’re within the time limit, you still need two doctors to sign it off before any procedure can take place.
But some of this could be about to change in a landmark decision.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi has put forward an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would decriminalise abortion at any stage, as long as the woman is acting in relation to their own pregnancy.
In simpler terms, this basically means that abortion after 24 weeks would no longer be a criminal offence and women can no longer be prosecuted for it.
On top of this, it would only need to be signed off by two doctors if the abortion takes place in a hospital or any other healthcare setting.
The framework by which abortion is accessed would remain the same, as would the time limits in healthcare settings.
Antoniazzi, whose bill has been signed by 136 MPs so far, said: “The police cannot be trusted with abortion law – nor can the CPS or the wider criminal justice system,” as reported by the BBC.
She added: "My amendment to the crime and policing bill will give us the urgent change we need to protect women."
Meanwhile, a second rival amendment put forward by Labour MP Stella Creasey would go even further by making accessing an abortion a human right.
Creasey’s bill would decriminalise abortion up to 24 weeks and negate elements of the Abortion Act.
The bill, which is already backed by 101 MPs so far, would also ensure that late-term abortions outside the Abortion Act do not result in prison sentences.
However, Creasey's bill is not backed by 'any of the abortion providers in the country', a leading pro-choice charity has said, according to the Guardian.
Whereas, Antoniazzi's proposed amendment has the support of more than 50 pro-choice organisations, including Bpas and MSI Reproductive Choices.
Topics: Politics, UK News, Health, Women's Health
Madison Burgess