HEALTH professionals, charities and MPs are renewing efforts to decriminalise abortion, declaring that “women deserve better” and should not face investigation under “archaic” law.

Organisations say more than 100 women are believed to have been investigated by the police in recent years under the current 164-year-old law, which sees abortion in England and Wales remain a criminal offence.

It is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is backing a new amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, brought by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, stating that “no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy.”

The group said the change would do away with the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution or imprisonment currently faced by some women.

It insisted it would not change any law regarding the provision of abortion services within a healthcare setting, including the time limit or the grounds for abortion.

BPAS said: “For every woman who ends up in court, at least 10 others are subjected to prolonged police investigations which can prevent them from getting the mental health support they desperately need.”

Ms Antoniazzi said the current law is unacceptable, adding: “There is simply no world in which prosecuting a vulnerable woman who may have experienced a medical complication, miscarriage or stillbirth is the right course of action.”

The amendment on decriminalisation is said to have the backing of more than 50 cross-party MPs.

It is expected a separate amendment could be tabled by Labour MP Stella Creasy, to not only decriminalise abortion but to “lock in” the right of someone to have one and protect those who assist.