In a landmark vote on 17 June 2025, the UK House of Commons overwhelmingly supported the decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales. MPs voted 379 to 137 in favour of an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that repeals parts of the Victorian-era Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This legislation had made it a criminal offence for women to end their own pregnancies, even in cases where the termination occurred outside the parameters of the 1967 Abortion Act. The reform marks a significant shift in how abortion is treated under UK law, reframing it as a healthcare matter rather than a criminal issue.
The amendment removes the threat of prosecution for women who terminate their own pregnancies, even after the current 24-week legal limit. However, legal penalties may still apply to medical professionals who provide abortions outside the boundaries set by law. The 24-week limit and the requirement for approval by two doctors remain in place under the Abortion Act 1967. The amendment now awaits passage through the House of Lords and Royal Assent before becoming law.
This move comes after a growing number of prosecutions in recent years, with more than 100 women investigated and at least six charged since 2022. Cases like those of Carla Foster and Nicola Packer, where women were criminalised for accessing abortion pills later in pregnancy, sparked widespread public and professional concern. These cases highlighted inconsistencies and legal grey areas, especially after home-use abortion pills were temporarily approved during the pandemic for up to 10 weeks of gestation.
Medical and advocacy organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, welcomed the vote. They argue that the criminal framework surrounding abortion has deterred some women from seeking care and placed undue risk on both patients and clinicians. Critics of the amendment, including several Conservative MPs, warned that removing criminal penalties might allow late-term abortions with little oversight. However, healthcare professionals maintain that the current clinical safeguards are sufficient and remain unchanged by this reform.
Once enacted, the UK will join countries such as France, Canada, and Australia in removing criminal penalties for those seeking abortions. While the new law represents a major step forward for reproductive rights in England and Wales, further legislative updates may be needed to extend protections to providers and ensure access remains safe, regulated, and equitable.
