In the UK abortion continues to be regulated under criminal law, but it is legally available through the Abortion Act 1967 which permits abortion if there is:

 

• Risk to the life of the pregnant woman

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• A necessity for abortion to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman

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• Risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or any existing children of her family (up to 24 weeks gestation)

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• Substantial risk that if the child were born, it would “suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped”

  

The Abortion Act 1967 came into effect on 27th April 1968 which is when the first legal abortion took place in the UK.

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In law abortion policy is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland but not in Wales. The law in Northern Ireland was changed on 21st October 2019 to allow abortion this law change came into effect on 31st March 2020. Before this change abortion was illegal in Northern Ireland.

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In March 2020 the UK introduced DIY abortion because of the COVID-19 Pandemic this law change allows women to take both abortion pills at home if they are under 10 weeks, they can do this without even having a physical in-person appointment with a medical professional. This change was supposed to be in place for 2 years. However the government then did public consultations to see if people would like it to be a permanent change. In March 2022 sadly the government made this change permanent despite concerns from some medical professionals and members of the public.

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Abortion in the UK - Stats & Figures

 

 

 Numbers of abortions in 1968                                   (first year of legalisation)

 

 

Numbers of abortions in 2022                                           (highest ever)

 

Years abortion has been legal  

 

     

     Total UK abortions in 56 years: 

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