Statement: The Crime and Policing Bill

This week, I am in France and Germany with the Defence Select Committee, so I was unable to vote on the Crime and Policing Bill on Tuesday. Although I could not participate in any of the votes on amendments to this bill, I supported my constituency neighbour Stella Creasy’s amendment (New Clause 20), which sought to enshrine abortion access as a human right and to prevent women who have terminated their own pregnancies from being criminally investigated.

However, this amendment was superseded by Tonia Antoniazzi’s amendment (New Clause 1), which also prevents women from being investigated, arrested, prosecuted, or imprisoned for ending their pregnancies. This vote represents a significant step in limiting draconian laws that have subjected women to criminal investigation, laws that have increasingly been used in recent years, including in cases where women have experienced miscarriages.

Importantly, the amendment does not affect how abortion services are provided, nor does it change the conditions set out in the Abortion Act regarding grounds, time limits, or the requirement for signatures from two doctors.

I also supported my colleague Mike Martin’s amendment (New Clause 43), which seeks to criminalise the harassment of (overwhelmingly) women in public.

For constituents who have contacted me about the Crime and Policing Bill, I will provide a detailed policy update in due course.