Peers probe abortion law, police powers and regulatory safeguards during final committee debates
The House of Lords is entering the final stages of an extended Committee examination of the Crime and Policing Bill 2024–26, with peers now concentrating on amendments raising significant constitutional, legal and regulatory questions ahead of the Bill’s move to the Report stage.
As the Committee process has progressed, scrutiny has shifted from broad policy objectives to a detailed examination of the Bill’s most contested provisions. Recent debates have focused in particular on proposals relating to abortion law and the expansion of police powers, with senior peers testing the legal consequences and regulatory safeguards attached to those measures.
One of the most closely scrutinized provisions is Clause 191, which would remove women from the scope of the criminal law in relation to their own pregnancies. During Committee debates on 2 February 2026, several peers, including Baroness Monckton, raised concerns about the legal implications of the clause as drafted. They questioned whether the removal of criminal liability could create uncertainty about the applicable legal framework for late-term abortions and whether existing protections for viable foetuses would remain effective.
Peers also debated the operation of the current “pills by post” regime, with some expressing concern that the absence of mandatory in-person medical consultations could limit the ability of clinicians to assess gestational age accurately or identify safeguarding risks. Others emphasized the importance of ensuring access to healthcare while maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight.
Alongside abortion-related provisions, the House is examining proposals to extend police powers, including the introduction of warrantless search and entry in cases involving electronically tracked stolen goods. Peers are questioning whether digital location data from GPS-enabled items would provide a sufficient legal basis to displace the longstanding requirement for judicial warrants. The debate has centred on proportionality, legal certainty and the balance between crime prevention and the protection of private property and the home.
Regulatory standards governing police accountability are also under scrutiny following the 2025 Police Accountability Review. The Bill proposes changes to the legal test applied in police misconduct investigations, potentially shifting from an objective civil standard to one focused on an officer’s honestly held belief. The Joint Committee on Human Rights has previously warned that such changes could have implications for public confidence and for compliance with obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Peers are further examining provisions relating to the regulation of emerging technologies and youth justice. These include proposed duties aimed at preventing the misuse of artificial intelligence systems to generate illegal content, as well as amendments seeking to raise the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales from 10 to 14.
As Committee scrutiny concludes, the Crime and Policing Bill will proceed to the Report stage in the House of Lords, where further amendments may be brought forward. Any changes agreed by peers will then be considered by the House of Commons, as the legislation moves into the final stages of parliamentary consideration.