![Medics told not to report illegal abortions to police](https://i0.wp.com/contentedreader.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/123187738_gettyimages-1312822113.jpg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1)
Abortions are legal in England if they are performed by a registered medical practitioner and take place within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Otherwise, it is illegal to deliberately end a pregnancy and, under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, it carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.