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.