Title page 1

Contents 3

Summary 4

1. Overview 7

1.1. What is an abortion? 7

1.2. How is abortion regulated in England and Wales? 7

1.3. How has the law on abortion changed since 2020? 9

2. Changes to the criminal law on abortion 11

2.1. What is the criminal law on abortion? 11

2.2. How does the Crime and Policing Act 2026 change the criminal law on abortion? 12

2.3. What aspects of abortion law have not changed? 12

2.4. Has the law on abortion changed in other parts of the UK? 13

3. Pardons and deletion of criminal records related to abortion 15

3.1. When was the clause on pardons and the deletion of criminal records added to the bill? 15

3.2. Was the clause subsequently amended? 16

4. Stakeholder reactions 18

4.1. Supportive reactions 18

4.2. Concerns raised 19