Lords Urged to Ensure Women Criminalised for Abortion Are 'Not Left Behind'
The House of Lords is set to consider amendments this Wednesday that could pardon women in England and Wales who have been arrested, investigated, or convicted under abortion legislation. Campaigners emphasise that these women must not be left behind if the law is changed to prevent future criminalisation.
Commons Vote and Lords Amendments
Last summer, the House of Commons voted to end the criminalisation of women who terminate pregnancies outside the legal framework through a new clause in the crime and policing bill. Now, the Lords will debate its own series of amendments, including two key proposals:
- Ending active police investigations into suspected illegal abortions.
- Pardoning women who have already been criminalised under what are deemed unjust laws.
Lib Dem peer Elizabeth Barker, who proposed one amendment, stated, "When I heard how the system has treated these women and girls when they are at their most vulnerable, it was clear this cruelty had to be stopped." She highlighted that even a conviction can be a life sentence, affecting job prospects and daily activities like renewing car insurance.
Personal Story: Becca's Ordeal
Becca, now 21, was 19 and working as a healthcare assistant in northern England when she discovered she was pregnant. With no signs of pregnancy, she assumed she had just conceived and sought a termination. After taking abortion pills, she experienced complications and called NHS 111, leading to a hospital visit where she learned she was six months pregnant. She gave birth prematurely to her son Harry.
Weeks later, police arrested Becca at home for attempted child destruction, a charge she did not understand. Her partner was arrested separately while visiting their son in hospital. Their devices were confiscated, and social services barred unsupervised contact with Harry for months. The investigation lasted 15 months before being dropped, but the arrest remains on her record as abortion offences are classified as violent crimes.
Becca expressed the ongoing impact: "You don't want to have to tell such a traumatic event to a random stranger who's going to be your boss." Her mother, Anne, added that erasing these records would allow Becca to pursue nursing or midwifery training without awkward declarations.
Broader Campaign and Expert Calls
Nikki Packer, cleared last year of an illegal abortion, described police investigations and trials as "by far the worst part," ruining lives. She urged the Lords to pass the decriminalisation vote on 18 March and for police to show accountability.
Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, called on peers to support clause 208 to protect women from prosecution and amendment 426B to pardon those previously prosecuted. "Women who have faced investigation or conviction should not have to continue living with the consequences of this archaic legislation," she said.
Heidi Stewart, CEO of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, emphasised, "Pardoning these women and expunging the records of investigations would recognise the profound injustice of criminalising abortion in the first place." She stressed that if laws align with modern values, affected women must not be overlooked.
The debate highlights a critical moment for reproductive rights in the UK, with potential reforms aiming to address past harms while shaping future legal protections.
