Nicola Packer, cleared of illegal abortion charges, endured a traumatic and public trial that highlighted the criminalization of abortion. Despite being prescribed pills legally during a Covid lockdown, prosecutors accused her of knowing she was over the legal limit. The ruling has sparked debates about the CPS's decision-making and the growing trend of prosecuting women for abortion-related issues, with recent statistics showing an uptick in investigations. The 1967 Abortion Actâs limitations exacerbate the issue, as many fear that discussions could threaten access to abortion services.
The Crown Prosecution Service has yet to explain why it thought that pursuing a case against Nicola Packer was in the public interest.
The trial dragged her private life even her sexual preferences into the public eye. Understandably, she called it humiliating.
But the underlying issue is the criminalisation of abortion. The 1967 Abortion Act did not repeal the Victorian law but created exemptions under set conditions.
Many campaigners and politicians have been reluctant to re-open the abortion issue for fear the debate could be exploited and lead to reduced availability.
Collection
[
|
...
]