UKIP’s first MP, Douglas Carswell, has severely criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for blocking an attempt to prosecute two doctors who had agreed to abortions on the basis of the sex of the child.
He told a constituent who had raised concerns about the case: “The Crown Prosecution Service likes to masquerade as objective, but in fact they make very subjective judgements, and I think those judgements are not always right.”
“Part of the problem is that the sort of people who work for the CPS tend to be open to what I think one might describe as secular extremism. I do not think they share our values,” he continued.
The comments were made in response to the CPS’ intervention in the private prosecution of two doctors, brought by 21-year-old Aisling Hubert who is supported by the Christian Legal Centre.
Mr Carswell went on to tell the Telegraph: “This case shows that despite the evidential case being made, [the CPS] decided that the best thing for the public was not to prosecute. Who in the public has any say in that? … I think a lot of people feel very uneasy about this.”
In February, the Prime Minister said, in the context of political debate about gender-abortion, that he supported prosecution and proper enforcement of abortion law.
Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre has now called on him to ensure that action is now taken to back up his call.
'Hostile takeover'
The two doctors were filmed by a national newspaper in 2012 offering 'gender-abortion'. The case was highlighted by the Telegraph and has been mentioned in the House of Commons.
However, the CPS refused to prosecute, despite concluding that there was sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. At the time, the CPS' decision provoked cross-party concern.
Following the CPS decision, Aisling Hubert,a 21-year-old Christian campaigner, launched a private prosecution seeking justice for women and pre-born children.
However, Judge Martin Steiger QC refused to order the release and submission of additional video material that was already in the possession of the CPS.
The case was then derailed by the CPS after it mounted a hostile takeover of the prosecution and dropped it.
'Secular extremism'
In his letter to a constituent, Mr Carswell said:
"I think you are right to be very concerned about the role of the Crown Prosecution Service. The Crown Prosecution Service likes to masquerade as objective, but in fact they make very subjective judgements, and I think those judgements are not always right. I think we need to make sure that the Crown Prosecution Service is publicly accountable, and this has simply not been happening.
"Part of the problem is that the sort of people who work for the CPS tend to be open to what I think one might describe as secular extremism. I do not think they share our values, and I think we need far-reaching reform of the Criminal Justice System to make sure that public prosecutors are properly accountable to the public," he continued.
Clarifying the law
In February, David Cameron indicated that he would vote against an explicit legal ban on 'gender-abortion' but said:
"In doing so, I hope that the abortion rules are properly policed and prosecutions and all the rest of it are carried out when the laws are broken."
Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, commented: "We need David Cameron to take political leadership and call on the CPS to reinstate the prosecution."
Sex-selective abortion is illegal in Britain since the baby's gender is not a legitimate ground under the 1967 Abortion Act.
However, there is now renewed debate over whether the law is clear enough. In February, Labour MPs led by Yvette Cooper derailed an attempt to introduce an explicit legal ban on 'gender-abortion'. David Cameron also made clear his opposition to the move.
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Related Coverage:
Abortion case shows CPS run by 'secular extremists' - MP (Telegraph)