The 24-week time limit remains in place.
Abortion has been decriminalised for women in England and Wales after the Crime and Policing Bill received Royal Assent on April 29, 2026.
The landmark reform removes women from the criminal law when ending their own pregnancies, marking a significant shift in reproductive rights across the UK.
For many South Asian communities, where conversations around abortion can remain sensitive, the change signals a move towards treating women with care rather than suspicion.
The reform follows years of debate, legal scrutiny and growing concern over how abortion laws were being applied in modern Britain.
Campaigners and medical bodies have widely welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue and necessary for protecting vulnerable women.
Under the new law, women will no longer face prosecution for ending their own pregnancies.
This means the use of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 in such cases has ended.
Previously, these laws exposed women to police investigations, criminal charges and even custodial sentences.
Supporters argue that removing these risks ensures women are treated as patients in need of support rather than suspects under criminal investigation.
However, the reform does not change the wider legal framework governing abortion services in England and Wales.
The 24-week time limit remains in place, alongside the requirement for approval from two doctors before a procedure.
Rules around where and how abortions can be provided also remain unchanged under current legislation.
This distinction is crucial, as misinformation has circulated online suggesting abortion is now allowed up until birth.
Medical organisations and officials have strongly rejected this claim, confirming that existing safeguards still apply.
The decriminalisation applies specifically to women in relation to their own pregnancies.
Doctors, healthcare providers and others can still face prosecution if they act outside the law.
Abortions carried out without a woman’s consent also remain illegal and subject to serious criminal penalties.
The change was introduced through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, reflecting growing political support for reform.
MPs initially passed the amendment in June 2025 with a decisive majority of 379 votes to 137.
The House of Lords later upheld the provision in March 2026, ensuring the decriminalisation clause remained intact.
Its final approval through Royal Assent has now cemented the reform into law.
Campaigners have also raised the issue of women previously convicted under outdated abortion laws.
There are expectations that those affected will receive pardons, although the process will require administrative action and may take time.
Some proposals have also called for related records to be cleared from police systems to prevent lasting stigma.
Supporters say the reform brings England and Wales closer to countries such as Canada, France, New Zealand, Sweden and Denmark.
Medical bodies, including the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, have backed the change.
They argue decriminalisation reflects modern healthcare standards and ensures women receive appropriate medical support.
The reform also follows concerns over recent cases where women faced investigations during distressing pregnancy situations.
These incidents sparked public debate about whether existing laws were being applied fairly or compassionately.
For many, the new law represents a shift towards dignity, privacy and trust in women’s healthcare decisions.
Loading ...