28/01/2026
Yesterday the RCOG hosted a medical briefing for members of the House of Lords to discuss Clause 191 of the Crime and Policing Bill and the urgent need to decriminalise abortion. The session was very well attended, with a full room of Peers engaging in discussion with clinical experts.
Peers heard directly from speakers including Dr Jonathan Lord, Co-Chair of the RCOG’s Abortion Taskforce, about how abortion care is delivered in practice, the current law, and the horrendous experiences of women who have been caught up in the criminal justice system for ending their own pregnancy.
Clause 191 would remove women from the criminal law related to abortion. MPs have already voted overwhelmingly in favour of this change, reflecting public opinion that abortion is healthcare – not a crime.
With Committee Stage approaching, we now urge the House of Lords to follow the lead of the Commons and back this vital amendment. Without it, women remain at risk of years-long investigations, charges and custodial sentences.
Read more: https://brnw.ch/21wZeNa