Abortion Law Lags: Women Arrested Post-Vote

Vulnerable women in England are being arrested and investigated for suspected illegal pregnancy terminations, even after Parliament overwhelmingly voted to decriminalise abortion. Nottinghamshire and Metropolitan police reported making arrests between June 2025 and January 2026. Abortion providers indicate that additional cases may not be officially recorded, as police forces have refused requests or reported no arrests.

The legislative amendment, which would mean women procuring abortions outside the legal framework cannot be prosecuted in England and Wales, is still working its way through parliament. In one instance after the vote, a woman was arrested in a hospital's delivery suite following a miscarriage.

Another case involved a woman in her 40s arrested over Christmas after delivering a foetus around 24 weeks gestation. Her children witnessed the police search of their home. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns that vulnerable women are being targeted by the criminal justice system.

MPs are pushing for change, citing 'dystopian treatment' under existing laws and emphasizing that criminalization is unnecessary for upholding abortion law safeguards. The House of Lords is set to debate further amendments, with proposals including pardoning convicted women and halting ongoing investigations.