UK abortion law reform and decriminalisation
Update: Women will no longer face prosecution for ending their own pregnancy
On 29th April 2026, the Crime and Policing Bill received Royal Assent, formally removing women from the criminal law related to abortion in England and Wales.
This landmark change means women will no longer face lengthy and distressing investigations, criminal charges, or custodial sentences for ending their own pregnancy.
We have been campaigning for this change for many years and this decision reflects the voices of more than 50 medical, legal and public health organisations. It also reflects the views of the public, who overwhelmingly support the right of women to access abortion care safely, confidentially and without fear of investigation or prosecution. The legislation also includes a historic pardon for women who have previously been convicted under outdated and unjust abortion laws. Any woman with a previous conviction for ending her own pregnancy will automatically be eligible to have this removed from her criminal record – ensuring no one continues to carry the lifelong consequences of a criminal record for something that should never have been treated as a crime.
“This is a landmark moment for women in England and Wales and a decisive shift to a more compassionate society. From today, women will no longer fear prosecution for ending their own pregnancies.
“This reform follows two other transformative votes in Parliament in support of abortion rights: making at-home abortion care permanently legal and creating Safe Access Zones which end clinic harassment. Together, these tell a clear story: the UK is moving, steadily and decisively, towards a more compassionate, evidence-based approach to reproductive healthcare.
“At a time when abortion rights are under threat in many places around the world, this reform stands as an example of progress, sending a powerful message of what can be achieved through persistence, evidence, and advocacy.”
At MSI UK we believe that, across the whole of the UK, abortion should sit outside criminal law.
Abortion is still written into criminal law in England, Scotland, and Wales*. Abortion is healthcare; it should not be a crime. No one should face prosecution for ending their own pregnancy.
In recent years, there has been a worrying rise in the number of investigations for unexplained pregnancy loss. In one instance, a woman was sent to jail for 28 months before being released on appeal after only 14. There are many circumstances which can lead to people finding themselves facing an investigation in relation to an unexplained pregnancy loss. But regardless of the circumstances, it is never in the public interest for anyone to face criminal prosecution for ending their own pregnancy.
Now is the time to decriminalise abortion.
What does UK abortion law say?
In England, Scotland, and Wales, the Abortion Act 1967 makes abortion legal as long as specific criteria are met. It is possible to have an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy (this is known as gestation). Abortion is available after the usual time limit if there’s evidence of severe foetal anomaly or a significant risk to the person’s life if they continue with the pregnancy.
*In Northern Ireland, abortion was decriminalised in 2019, and the legal framework came into effect in 2020. Abortion is now unconditionally legal up to 12 weeks in Northern Ireland. After 12 weeks, the law is similar to the rest of the UK.
Whilst the Abortion Act 1967 makes abortion legal if certain criteria are met (for example, getting two doctors to sign off every abortion – this is arranged by providers like MSI UK), abortion outside these parameters remains a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 and the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929. The maximum sentence is life in prison.
Following successful advocacy by MSI UK and our collaborators, an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill was passed by Parliament which removes people from the criminal law when ending their own pregnancies, without changing any other aspect of abortion law, regulation, or provision. The Crime and Policing Act was given Royal Assent on the 29 April 2026 with this change in the law effective immediately.
Abortion is healthcare, and healthcare is a human right. Now is the time to decriminalise abortion, across the whole of the UK.
Our asks for MPs in the UK Parliament:
- Support decriminalising abortion care, which in practice means the repeal of sections 58, 59, and 60 of the Offences Against the Persons Act, and the repeal of the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929, while preserving the hard-won progress which sits upon the Abortion Act 1967 such as telemedicine and conscientious objection.
- Engage with abortion providers and leading experts in UK abortion law on any reforms.
- Remove the requirement for two doctors to sign off every abortion procedure. Abortion should be available on request without conditionality or clinical justification. Medical regulations would still apply but no conditions should apply in criminal law. Decisions about whether, why, how, when, and where to have an abortion should be a matter for the person ending their own pregnancy and their doctor, not criminal law.
What can you do to help our campaign to decriminalise abortion?
- Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Bluesky to stay up to date with our campaign for decriminalisation
- Sign up to MSI Reproductive Choices’ newsletter to learn more about abortion rights around the world
Read more about our campaign for decriminalising abortion in Great Britain
Abortion law and criminal justice
Read our blog on how we recommend reforming UK abortion law.
What’s next for abortion law reform
Read our blog on why our current abortion law is increasingly outdated.
Decriminalise abortion now
Read our blog on why this is the right time to decriminalise abortion in Great Britain.
Read our position paper on decriminalising abortion
This document sets out our position on decriminalisation, with six key recommendations.
Find our latest blogs on abortion law reform
Click here to browse our advocacy blogs on abortion law reform, including our fight for the decriminalisation of abortion across the UK.
Wins and milestones for abortion law reform
Success in abortion law reform: the introduction of at-home abortion care
In a huge win for reproductive rights, on 30th March 2022, the House of Commons voted to keep the option of at-home early medical abortion care (telemedicine) in England.
MSI Reproductive Choices UK advocated, together with partners, to keep this service for our clients. The service allows people to take both pills for early medical abortion at home and was initially introduced as part of the COVID-19 response in March 2020. Before this, only the second pill could be taken at home.
Following a vote of 215 – 188 and moving speeches in support of telemedicine from various MPs, telemedicine was officially made a permanent option for those accessing early medical abortion care in England.
Since its introduction, telemedicine revolutionised abortion care, allowing people to access care in the way that has been proven to be safe, effective and often preferred.
“This was a vote for evidence over ideology, a vote for reproductive rights, and a vote for gender equality.
Everyone chooses abortion for different reasons and under different circumstances. It is important that we can offer options that take into account personal circumstances – and that includes taking both pills at home.
Trusting people to make these choices for themselves is a vital part of how MSI delivers high quality, responsive care for anyone who needs us.”
Position papers, policy briefings, consultation responses and thought-leadership
As part of our campaign to make telemedicine a permanent option (beyond the COVID-10 pandemic), we developed a range of publications sharing our position, briefings for parliamentarians and guides on submitting responses to a public consultation on at-home abortion care. Read them here:
Read our blogs on at-home abortion care
Click here to browse our advocacy blogs on at-home abortion care (telemedicine).
Read more about our advocacy work
Advocacy and opinions
Learn about our advocacy work.
Anti-choice opposition
Find our campaign against anti-choice opposition.
MSI UK’s Manifesto
Read our policy vision for the new Parliament.