Legal Update - 11 May 2026
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Only a limited number of sections came into force on that day, primarily providing powers to make regulations. Of particular relevance are provisions removing women from the scope of the criminal law in relation to abortions and a new power to scan for child sexual abuse images at the border.
Section 241 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removes women from the remit of criminal law in relation to their own abortion. The section provides that in respect of abortions, no woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy commits an offence. There are no changes to other abortion laws, for example the ten and 24 week limits in section 1 of the Abortion Act 1967 as far as other persons are concerned, such as doctors, midwives, nurses etc.
A new power to scan for child sexual abuse images at the UK border is introduced by inserting a new section 164B into the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. The power requires that an individual who is suspected to be in possession of digitally stored child sexual abuse material unlocks their digital devices to enable technology-enabled inspection may be used by Warranted Customs Officer; constables have a duty to assist (section 11 of the 1979 Act). Refusal to allow such an inspection may be an offence of obstruction under section 31 of the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs Act 2005.
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