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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
'7 police officers raided my house while I tried to resuscitate my baby'
A leading abortion charity shares the gut-wrenching stories of three women who have been accused of having an illegal abortion under Britain's "archaic" abortion laws On the back of an MPs debate over an e-petition calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in the UK, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has shared three harrowing cases of women affected under what have been described by campaigners as 'archaic' laws around women's bodily autonomy. Each year, around 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK, according to the NHS. One was born to Sammy*, who went into premature labour at home. But as she resuscitated her baby, seven police officers searched her bins, before the paramedics had even arrived. Sammy was then interviewed by police under caution for a suspected illegal abortion and her phone and computer were seized. Her home was sealed off 'like a crime scene'. She was left in the clothes she was admitted to hospital in, and was barred from contacting her partner. Despite providing forensic samples that did not show the presence of abortion drugs, she remained under police investigation for a year. Her baby had luckily survived despite the traumatic birth. However, Sammy was only allowed limited, supervised contact with them. As horrific as this scenario sounds, it's one that has been made possible through the current laws surrounding abortion in the UK. The Abortion Act was introduced in 1967 and allowed women to terminate a pregnancy up to 28 weeks with the certification of two doctors. In 1990, the limit was changed to 24 weeks. Meanwhile, the punishment for abortion can be severe. Abortion laws in the UK still fall under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, which means that undergoing an abortion without the permission of two doctors, or after 24 weeks, can carry a life sentence. In the 10 years leading up to April 2022, England and Wales recorded at least 67 cases of procuring an illegal abortion, according to data obtained by The Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act. Katherine O'Brien, a spokesperson for BPAS, says that more than a hundred women have been investigated by the police over recent years. She told The Mirror: "These include women who have experienced a late miscarriage or a stillbirth, and women who were pressured to take abortion medication by abusive partners. Women have been arrested straight from hospital wards, their homes searched, their children taken away, all under our cruel and archaic abortion law." In December 2024, an e-petition calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in the UK. It received 102,855 signatures, before being brought to the UK parliament in April. The petition 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.' These laws affect women at all different stages in life. For example, Laura*, already the mother to a toddler, was studying at university when she pled guilty to ending her own pregnancy using illicit medication. She was told by prosecution that if she didn't plead guilty she would likely be jailed for life. She ended up being sentenced to more than two years in prison. She reported to BPAS at the time that she was in a physically, sexually, and emotionally abusive relationship, and that her partner told her not to go to the doctor. After she was arrested, he told her that he would kill her if she told anyone he was involved. He was never investigated by the police. Meanwhile, Sophie* was just a teenager when she was arrested at midnight and held in custody for 19 hours. She was suspected of ending her own pregnancy using illicit medication. In fact, the police raid was the first time her parents learnt that she had been pregnant. She was described by the prosecution as 'being vulnerable'. Despite this, she faced two trials. Throughout the proceedings, she maintained that she had had a traumatic stillbirth after only finding out she was pregnant after 24 weeks. The charge that she had ended her own pregnancy was dropped, but only after six years, and she still received a criminal record.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Inside the Victorian-era law from 1861 that governs women's rights in the UK
As campaigners fight for the decriminalisation of abortion to the UK, we delve into the 1861 Victorian era law that currently governs women's bodily autonomy in Britain MPs, feminist and abortion rights groups are currently fighting for the decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales. But what exactly is the law around abortion and when did it come into place? The Abortion Act was introduced to the UK 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. What is the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act? At the time of writing, seeking an illegal abortion in the UK carries a sentence of up to a lifetime in prison. This is because it falls under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. Under the Act, any person who provided or used a poison or tool to end a pregnancy can be found guilty of 'a misdemeanour' and, if convicted, could be imprisoned. Or, as the law puts it: 'kept in penal servitude for life'. In 1921, an exception was made to include a caveat that abortions could be performed in order to save the life of a mother. In 1938, a doctor was arrested after performing an abortion on a 14-year-old rape victim. He argued the procedure was necessary because of the risks to her physical and mental health. This prompted a revision to the law, which led to the 1967 Abortion Act. At present, 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. The Abortion Act also 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. MPs voted to continue to allow women to access at-home abortion care and the measure was made permanent in August 2020. How many women have been charged for an illegal abortion? Under the law, there have only been three convictions achieved, but criminal investigations into women who have suffered from miscarriages or had a premature or a stillbirth have recently increased. According to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, 'record numbers' of women are being investigated for suspected abortions in the UK. Campaigners have claimed that over 100 women have been investigated by police in recent years due to current abortion laws, as recently reported by Sky News. In the 10 years leading up to April 2022, England and Wales recorded at least 67 cases of procuring an illegal abortion, according to data obtained by The Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act. Why do campaigners want to change the law? Campaigners want to decriminalise abortion as this will make it a healthcare matter rather than a legal one. A petition was launched in 2024 calling for the decriminalisation of abortion, which received more than 103,000 signatures, according to the UK parliament. 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 Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Nigel Farage accused of following ‘Trumpian playbook' on abortion
Campaigners have raised concerns over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage 's calls for stricter abortion laws, saying his plans could have "catastrophic consequences for women". Mr Farage said that allowing abortions up to 24 weeks is "ludicrous" and believes the law is "totally out of date", advocating for a debate on implementing stricter time limits. Stella Creasy, a Labour MP, criticised Mr Farage's comments as part of a "Trumpian playbook", suggesting a coordinated effort to restrict abortion access through seemingly reasonable measures. Tonia Antoniazzi, another Labour MP, is campaigning for an amendment to decriminalise abortion, arguing that "no woman should have Nigel Farage dictating their reproductive rights". The British Pregnancy Advisory Service has said there is no medical justification for reducing the abortion time limit.
Cosmopolitan
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Cosmopolitan
Police told how to search a woman's home and her phone for evidence she's had an abortion
As anti-abortion groups in the UK step up their tactics and women's rights are being rolled back globally, the National Police Chiefs' Council has issued guidance in the UK telling officers how to search women's phones, menstrual-tracking apps and homes following a pregnancy loss, if they're suspected of having had an illegal abortion. Branding the guidance 'harrowing' and flagging concerns that police did not consult with abortion providers before issuing it, Katie Saxon, Chief Strategic Communications Officer at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said, "As an abortion provider, we know how the police treat women suspected of breaking abortion law. But to see it in black and white, after years of criticisms of the way an outdated law is enforced, is harrowing. "To write it without any public conversation or discussion with experts, to tell police to use women's period trackers and medical records against them, to tell them to evade the restrictions of medical confidentiality shows just how detached from reality the NPCC are." Saxon labelled the guidance as the "clearest sign yet that women cannot rely on the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, or the courts to protect them – the only way to stop this is to remove women from the criminal law on abortion." Due to an old Victorian law dating back to 1861, women can face up to life in prison for having an abortion if certain strict criteria is not met, as outlined in the Abortion Act of 1967 (which made terminating a pregnancy legal in some specific circumstances). Cosmopolitan UK, along with BPAS and more than 30+ other women's rights groups and healthcare organisations, is currently calling for MPs to scrap 1861 in an upcoming vote, believing women deserve compassion not prosecution – and that abortion is healthcare, and should not be tied in with the law. For much of recent history, nobody was investigated in relation to having had a suspected abortion. But in the last two years, six women have appeared in court under the basis of this law and healthcare providers report that the number of women being investigated is the highest it's been in decades. Leading abortion providers say they have received hundreds of requests from police for private patient data in recent times. The new guidance could further fuel a "culture of hostility and suspicion towards abortion and pregnancy loss", added Louise McCudden, MSI Reproductive Choices' UK Head of External Affairs. "To publish such draconian guidance about a legal medical procedure, without input from abortion providers or the wider medical community, shows an alarming disregard for the real world implications for the women involved. "When you have unjust, Victorian laws that govern women's bodies, it's no surprise that this leads to unjust regressive policing that overrides women's bodily autonomy." Many women who are investigated are vulnerable, with experts in the field pointing out they could be victims of domestic abuse, seeking an abortion as they simply cannot afford a child during the cost of living crisis, and/or are suffering with serious mental health issues. When asked about the new guidelines for officers, a National Police Chiefs' Council spokesperson said it is not routine for police to investigate unexpected pregnancy loss. "An investigation is only initiated where there is credible information to suggest criminal activity, and this would often be because of concerns raised from medical professionals. Each case would have a set of unique factors to be assessed and investigated depending on its individual circumstances." The spokesperson added, "It would be at the discretion of the senior investigating officer leading the case to determine which reasonable lines of enquiry to follow. "We recognise how traumatic the experience of losing a child is, with many complexities involved, and any investigation of this nature and individuals will always be treated with the utmost sensitivity and compassion. There is no standardised policy to investigate illegal abortions. Police will always work closely with health partners to prioritise the welfare of everyone involved." Responding to the news, Rhiannon White, founder of Clue, a popular menstrual cycle app, told Cosmopolitan UK that it would not comply with data requests from the police, and reminded users of the app to set up a pin, FaceID or fingerprint access on their phones. She also sought to highlight how women can request for their data to be deleted from Clue, or an equivalent app, at any time. "We have never - and will never - share health data with authorities. We will aggressively challenge any such requests and will never allow our members' data to be used against them," White explained, adding that the Clue team have been shocked and outraged to learn that UK police have been issued such guidance. "We have spoken loudly on this subject, particularly in the US since Roe Vs Wade was overturned in 2022. This same position applies to every region around the world," White adds. "As a business, we have built our foundations on protecting women's rights to data privacy, body autonomy and health equity." Along with 30+ other women's rights groups and healthcare organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and leading abortion care providers BPAS and MSI, Cosmopolitan UK is calling for urgent abortion law reform. We believe abortion is healthcare – and should never be criminalised. If you'd like to support the campaign, you can learn more here. Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC's Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women's Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Women deserve better': Fresh attempts to decriminalise abortion as campaigners say 100 investigated
More than 100 women are believed to have been investigated by the police in recent years under abortion laws, campaigners say, as they renew efforts to decriminalise the medical procedure. Health professionals, charities and MPs are saying "women deserve better" and should not face investigation under an "archaic" 164-year-old law, which sees abortion in England and Wales remain a criminal offence. The issue most recently came to the fore after a during the COVID lockdown in 2020. Nicola Packer, 45, had taken abortion medicine when 26 weeks pregnant - beyond the legal limit of 10 weeks. She told jurors she did not realise she had been pregnant for more than 10 weeks. Following the trial, her friend said she had been "persecuted" for a "tragic accident". It is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) is backing a new amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, brought by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, stating that "no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy". The amendment would do away with the threat of investigation - or even imprisonment - some women face. Read more:'I felt like a criminal': One woman's storyThe women selling abortions on social media Previous attempts to change the law had been set to go before parliament, but could not take place after parliament was dissolved last summer for the general election. Ms Antoniazzi supported Ms Packer during her recent trial, and said the current law is "unacceptable". "There is simply no world in which prosecuting a vulnerable woman who may have experienced a medical complication, miscarriage or stillbirth is the right course of action." Law won't change time limit The latest attempt follows repeated calls to repeal sections of the 19th-century law - the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act - after abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in 2019. Bpas said the latest amendment would not change the law regarding provision of abortion services within a healthcare setting - including the time limit, grounds for abortion or approval of two doctors. Bpas said: "For every woman who ends up in court, at least 10 others are subjected to prolonged police investigations which can prevent them from getting the mental health support they desperately need and which have resulted in existing children being separated from women whose cases never make it to court. Women deserve better." A separate amendment, proposed by Stella Creasy, would not only decriminalise abortion but "lock in" the right to have one, and protect those who help. Read more: What are the abortion laws in UK and the punishments for breaking them? It follows the case of Carla Foster, who was jailed in 2023 for illegally obtaining abortion tablets to end her pregnancy. She later had her sentence reduced on appeal. Ms Creasy last week said the law must be changed so that "the right to choose is a human right", ensuring no repeat of "such awful cases and victimisation of vulnerable women again". Last month, Scotland's women's health minister, Jenni Minto, said she was "disappointed" that some still have to travel to England for late-term abortions, amid concerns that women in Scotland can only have a termination after 20 weeks in cases where there is either a foetal abnormality or the woman's life is at risk.
