Morning After Pill given out in advance

Background briefing.

From CFNews. Women and young girls are being offered the chance to stock up on 'morning after' pills at £10 a time by Britain's leading abortion provider.

The charity BPAS says keeping the pills at home will stop more women from getting pregnant after unprotected sex, despite studies showing advance supplies do not reduce the abortion rate. It said it would be prepared to sell pills to schoolgirls under the age of consent. The move sparked outrage last night with critics saying it would encourage women to use the powerful drug as contraception without thinking about the consequences. There will also be concerns about storing such powerful pills in bathroom cabinets where children could get hold of them. The new campaign is the first to openly promote the commercial sale of emergency contraception in advance. Pharmacists are permitted to sell the pill only to women who have already risked pregnancy - at around £26 a time - although GPs and family planning doctors may give prescriptions in advance to patients.