The women being prosecuted in Great Britain for abortions: ‘Her confidentiality was completely destroyed’

Between 1861 and November 2022, only three women were convicted of having an illegal abortion. But since December 2022, one woman has been convicted and six people are awaiting trial. Why the sudden rise?

Zoe Williams
Fri 10 Nov 2023 08.08 EST

When Hampshire police found a human placenta in woodland in Southampton this summer, officers contacted the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS). The force wanted details of anyone who had been seen but turned away at a BPAS clinic because they were over the limit at which they could have an abortion – and anyone who had “disengaged having initially made inquiries to seek a termination”.

“That was potentially hundreds of women,” wrote Claire Murphy, the chief executive of BPAS, in her reply to the police. “We owe our clients a duty of confidentiality. If this is information you want, you’ll have to get a court order.”

The police deny making this approach, which is bizarre, as a paper trail seen by the Guardian shows the same request being made multiple times to BPAS branches in Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton. There has been no further contact from the force.

However, these emails are representative of a striking acceleration in the prosecution of women who have had abortions beyond the 24-week limit. Scores of women have found themselves criminally investigated after losing a late pregnancy.

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