LONDON, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The Members of Parliament (MPs) voted on Tuesday to decriminalize abortion, which was considered a criminal offence in England and Wales.
The amendment would "disapply existing criminal law related to abortion from women acting in relation to her own pregnancy at any gestation, removing the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment."
According to the current law in England and Wales, abortion is allowed up to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, and beyond that in some circumstances. However, the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 still criminalize abortions.
The amendment would prevent women from being prosecuted but keep punishments for medical professionals and violent partners who end a pregnancy outside the existing law.
According to polling by Sky News and YouGov, 55 percent of respondents are in favour of the law changing to stop women being criminalized for their abortion before 24 weeks, but 22 percent said they believe women should be investigated or imprisoned for abortion after 24 weeks.
The amendment has been added to the government's Crime and Policing Bills, and would come into law after the royal assent.
