Abortion arrest: Leaked recording reveals police had serious concerns

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Anna Meisel of BBC File on 4 Investigates recently uncovered a secret recording that sheds light on a controversial arrest involving a woman named Nicola Packer. Packer was arrested under the suspicion of illegally taking abortion pills while she was approximately 26 weeks pregnant, although she believed she was only six weeks along. The arrest occurred during the peak of the Covid pandemic, just a day after she delivered a stillborn baby at home and underwent major surgery while still bleeding.

In April of this year, Packer faced accusations of illegal abortion in court, but was ultimately acquitted. The leaked audio from a 2020 meeting between Metropolitan Police officers and healthcare professionals revealed serious concerns from the Met’s child abuse investigation lead at the time regarding the criminalization of abortions and the arrest of Packer. The officer questioned whether the arrest was in Packer’s best interest given the circumstances.

Despite the initial decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) not to prosecute, Packer was eventually charged in 2023 after the police requested a review of the case. The Met Police defended its actions, stating that the investigation was conducted impartially and with the goal of pursuing the truth. Packer expressed her anger towards the midwives for involving the police when it was unnecessary, further complicating an already difficult situation.

Following the events, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists issued guidance to healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of patient confidentiality and the potential consequences of reporting suspected crimes to the police. Packer, who underwent surgery and was held in custody for 24 hours, intends to file complaints against the authorities involved in her case, seeking accountability for the trauma and lack of compassion she experienced

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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