Crimes Act 1961

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry of Justice

Killing unborn child

Heading: replaced, on 24 March 2020, by section 11 of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 6).

182 Killing unborn child

(1)

Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who causes the death of any child that has not become a human being in such a manner that he or she would have been guilty of murder if the child had become a human being.

(2)

Nothing in subsection (1) applies to any person who before or during the birth of any child causes its death by—

(a)

a means employed in good faith to preserve the life of the child’s mother; or

(b)

providing abortion services in accordance with section 10 or 11 of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977.

Compare: 1908 No 32 s 220

Section 182(2): replaced, on 24 March 2020, by section 12 of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 6).