MPs vote to decriminalise abortion for women in England and Wales

This vote adds an amendment to the police and crime bill being debated in parliament. It will decriminalise abortions (at any stage) which have lead to arbitrary police harassment of women, including those who have miscarried.

It will still penalise doctors and other third parties if they provide assistance to abortions beyond 24 weeks ("late term" abortions) where the law was consistently enforced on women unless under extenuating circumstances.

The current law in England and Wales states that abortion is illegal but allowed up to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and beyond that in certain circumstances such as if the woman's life is in danger.

Another amendment of this nature included one to scrap all abortion-related clauses of the 1861 act that originally outlawed abortion. This would have made abortion totally legal (not just decriminalised) but was not put to vote.

One amendment attempted by the Conservative shadow (opposition) health minister tried to ban access to abortion pills without an in-person consultation (would ban abortion pills via postal chemist services) but was defeated by a strong margin.