Latest news with #CriminalJusticeBill
Refinery29
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Refinery29
Abortion Has Now Been Decriminalised — But Our Fight Is Not Over Yet
'I'm just going to leave you for a moment to process your thoughts and feelings,' my partner said to me after he'd gleefully waved at the news on his phone. 'Let's pop some fizz!' The breaking news: On Tuesday evening, MPs had voted — 379 votes to 137 — to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales. MP Tonia Antoniazzi proposed amendment NC1 to the Criminal Justice Bill. In short: women can no longer be prosecuted at any stage for having an abortion. I needed a moment, just like many other women and people with uteruses across the country. A moment to feel the exhaustion of fighting for our reproductive rights lift slightly. A moment to feel in charge of our own bodies, finally. Until this week, abortion was still technically a criminal offence under a Victorian law called the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Although, in practice, termination is allowed under the Abortion Act 1967. Access to abortion involves the requirement of two doctors' signatures and carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. This will remain the same and doctors who act outside of the law will still face the threat of prosecution but now, thanks to this law change, women will not. It marks the biggest step forward in reproductive rights in nearly 60 years. But it's not over yet. Labour MP Stella Creasy had proposed a different change which if passed instead would've meant abortion in England and Wales, just like in Northern Ireland, would be a human right. It would've meant protection to all of those involved. It would've protected access for all and in every form. It would've meant full decriminalisation under amendment NC20. Back in 2019, Refinery29 journalists — Vicky Spratt, Natalie Gil and Gillian Orr, to name but a few — started an I'm A Criminal campaign, pushing for decriminalisation. Since then, we've seen prosecutions increase tenfold. Up until 2022, only three women had ever been convicted of having an illegal abortion. In the last four years, six women had been called up to court accused of ending their pregnancy. According to data obtained by The Guardian from the Crown Prosecution Service, 13 people were called to court charged with abortion-related offences in 2022, compared with four people in 2019 and three in both 2020 and 2021. Some known cases haven't been included in this data. But the most recent high profile case that had women up in arms was cleared by a jury only a few weeks ago: Nicola Parker was found not guilty after nearly five years of facing the threat of prison. Like Nicola Parker, these women faced scrutiny that should never have happened. Some faced intrusive personal questions on the stand like a criminal. Some faced the paparazzi snapping them outside of court like a criminal. Their lives were completely upended by a choice they made about their own bodies. We can only imagine how unbelievably difficult and traumatic it must've been for them then and now. So here's to all the women across England and Wales who, this week, no longer feel like criminals. Since 2019, we've seen reproductive rights being rolled back across Europe — in Poland abortion has been banned since 2020 and in Hungary women who seek an abortion must listen to the foetal heartbeat first. And we've watched from afar the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the States, and subsequently state by state remove access to abortions or make it increasingly difficult to get one. These removals have only happened in the space of a couple of years, what will the next couple bring? Complacency is not an option for us. Action can mean success. Remember when women and men across Ireland pushed to Repeal the 8th in 2018? The referendum successfully resulted in the majority of Irish citizens voting to repeal the Eighth Amendment, so abortion is now legal. So Scotland, here's looking at you now. My beloved home country needs to pass a similar amendment through Holyrood in Edinburgh. Currently, we still follow the same requirements under the Abortion Act 1967. Women can still be called a criminal for having an abortion. Let's change that. The time is now. I've now processed my thoughts and feelings on it, and the fight for our reproductive rights isn't over yet. In truth, it never will be because we know that a person's right to bodily autonomy can never be taken for granted. We also know that you can never be complacent about the right not to be pregnant.
Spectator
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Lefties abandon Stella Creasy's abortion amendment
A real cheery week in the Commons is looming for our lucky legislators. There's assisted dying, grooming gangs and a welfare row to enjoy. But tomorrow attention will switch to abortion, with Labour MPs now pushing to 'decriminalise' the practice in England and Wales. Unfortunately, a bit of a row has broken out between Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy, both of whom have tabled competing amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill. Antoniazzi's measure would allow abortion for any reason up to birth while maintaining criminal sanctions for doctors performing late-term or sex-selective procedures. Creasy, however, has adopted the more hard-line position of full decriminalisation in all circumstances. The pair sparred earlier this month on the floor of the House of Commons. Now, the race is on to see who can get more signatures for their amendment…. Sadly for Stella, it seems she has lost once again. For some 14 left-leaning Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs who previously backed her amendment have since withdrawn their names. They are, according to the parliamentary order paper, Peter Swallow, Antonia Bance, Freddie van Mierlo, Luke Taylor, Adam Jogee, Liz Jarvis, Rachel Taylor, Sarah Smith, Jacob Collier, Alison Hume, Kirith Entwistle, Layla Moran, Helen Hayes and Dr Rosena Allin-Khan. This list was accurate up to Friday evening. All except Allin-Khan have put their names to Antoniazzi's amendment instead. With Speaker Hoyle likely to call only one of the two Labour MPs, it looks like Creasy has demonstrated her reverse Midas touch in politics once again….
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rough sleeping to be decriminalised in England and Wales
Rough sleeping will be decriminalised next year under government plans to scrap a 200-year-old law. Ministers are planning to scrap the Vagrancy Act, which outlaws rough sleeping in England and Wales. The law was introduced in 1824 to deal with rising homelessness, but Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has called it "cruel and outdated". The government's plan includes new legislation which will target crimes such as organised begging by gangs and trespassing, a statement said. Rayner, who is also housing secretary, said Labour was "drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society". "No one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough and by scrapping this cruel and outdated law, we are making sure that can never happen again," she said. The number of prosecutions and convictions under the 1824 act has declined over the past decade. According to government statistics, there were a total of 79 prosecutions and 59 convictions for offences related to rough sleeping in 2023 - down from a peak of 1,050 and 810 respectively in 2011. Repealing the Vagrancy Act was first announced in 2022 by the previous Conservative government. It had wanted to pass alternative legislation first, but this did not happen before the general election was called last year. The party's Criminal Justice Bill would have allowed police to move on "nuisance" rough sleepers and fine them if they did not comply. The Labour government said it plans to replace the Vagrancy Act with "targeted measures" that will "ensure police have the powers they need to keep communities safe". These measures, which will be introduced through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, will include new offences of facilitating begging for gain and trespassing with the intention of committing a crime. Homeless charities have long called for the Vagrancy Act to be scrapped. Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said: "This is a landmark moment that will change lives and prevent thousands of people from being pushed into the shadows, away from safety." He praised the government for having "shown such principled leadership in scrapping this pernicious Act". He said: "We hope this signals a completely different approach to helping people forced onto the streets and clears the way for a positive agenda that is about supporting people who desperately want to move on in life and fulfil their potential." People living on London's streets rises by 26% Pressure grows over rough sleeping clampdown
North Wales Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Pro-choice group opposes Stella Creasy's abortion amendment
Rachael Clarke, head of advocacy at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said the NC20 amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill does not have the backing of abortion providers. The amendment would remove criminal penalties for abortion in England and Wales, effectively decriminalising the procedure in all circumstances. 'We are not supporting NC20, and neither are any of the abortion providers in the country,' Ms Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday. She said a separate proposal, NC1, has the support of more than 50 pro-choice organisations – unlike Creasy's. 'Abortion law is incredibly complex. It governs 250,000 women's healthcare every single year,' she said. 'Because of that, it is essential that any huge change to abortion law is properly considered. 'That means involvement with providers, medical bodies, regulators – and proper debate time in Parliament.' She warned that MPs are being asked to back a 'generational change' after just three hours of debate next week. 'For us, unfortunately, although we truly believe that we need overwhelming and generational change for abortion law, Stella Creasy's amendment is not the right way to do it,' she said. The amendment has also been heavily criticised by anti-abortion campaigners, who say it would amount to the most extreme liberalisation of the law since the 1967 Abortion Act. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) said NC20 could allow abortions on the basis of a baby's sex and would remove protections that allow abusers who harm unborn children to be prosecuted. SPUC said the amendment, along with another tabled by MP Tonia Antoniazzi, represents 'the greatest threat to unborn children and their mothers since the Abortion Act'. They urged supporters to lobby their MPs to vote against both proposals, warning that abortion 'up to birth' could become possible under the changes. Votes on the amendments are due to take place on June 17 and 18 during the report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill. Abortion in England and Wales remains a criminal offence. However a petition has gathered more than 103,653 signatures urging the Government at Westminster to 'remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion'. It is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. During a recent Westminster debate, Labour MP Tony Vaughan said it is time to 'abandon these outdated practices' of prosecuting women. He said: 'I believe that our laws cannot be fixed relics of the past but must reflect social attitudes and societal norms.' He insisted 'decriminalisation does not mean deregulation' and that he has not seen evidence 'to suggest that removing the criminal law deterrent would then motivate swathes of women to have abortions after 24 weeks'.
Rhyl Journal
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Pro-choice group opposes Stella Creasy's abortion amendment
Rachel Clarke, head of advocacy at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said the NC20 amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill does not have the backing of abortion providers. The amendment would remove criminal penalties for abortion in England and Wales, effectively decriminalising the procedure in all circumstances. 'We are not supporting NC20, and neither are any of the abortion providers in the country,' Ms Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday. She said a separate proposal, NC1, has the support of more than 50 pro-choice organisations – unlike Creasy's. 'Abortion law is incredibly complex. It governs 250,000 women's healthcare every single year,' she said. 'Because of that, it is essential that any huge change to abortion law is properly considered. 'That means involvement with providers, medical bodies, regulators – and proper debate time in Parliament.' She warned that MPs are being asked to back a 'generational change' after just three hours of debate next week. 'For us, unfortunately, although we truly believe that we need overwhelming and generational change for abortion law, Stella Creasy's amendment is not the right way to do it,' she said. The amendment has also been heavily criticised by anti-abortion campaigners, who say it would amount to the most extreme liberalisation of the law since the 1967 Abortion Act. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) said NC20 could allow abortions on the basis of a baby's sex and would remove protections that allow abusers who harm unborn children to be prosecuted. SPUC said the amendment, along with another tabled by MP Tonia Antoniazzi, represents 'the greatest threat to unborn children and their mothers since the Abortion Act'. They urged supporters to lobby their MPs to vote against both proposals, warning that abortion 'up to birth' could become possible under the changes. Votes on the amendments are due to take place on June 17 and 18 during the report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill. Abortion in England and Wales remains a criminal offence. However a petition has gathered more than 103,653 signatures urging the Government at Westminster to 'remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion'. It is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. During a recent Westminster debate, Labour MP Tony Vaughan said it is time to 'abandon these outdated practices' of prosecuting women. He said: 'I believe that our laws cannot be fixed relics of the past but must reflect social attitudes and societal norms.' He insisted 'decriminalisation does not mean deregulation' and that he has not seen evidence 'to suggest that removing the criminal law deterrent would then motivate swathes of women to have abortions after 24 weeks'.
