Nottinghamshire and Met police made arrests in past year, despite MPs voting to decriminalise in England and Wales
Vulnerable women in England are still being arrested and facing police investigations over suspected illegal pregnancy terminations, despite parliament backing changes to the law to decriminalise abortion.
Responding to a freedom of information request, Nottinghamshire police and the Metropolitan police confirmed they had arrested women suspected of illegal terminations between June last year and this January.
Abortion providers have said they are aware of several cases that do not show up in the data, with the relevant police forces having either refused the request, or reported they had recorded no arrests of women under the relevant legislation.
Last June, MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a change in the law that will mean women procuring a pregnancy termination outside the legal framework cannot be prosecuted in England and Wales. However, the legislation is still passing through parliament and yet to become law.
