It’s time to show ’political courage’ to take abortion out of the criminal world and place it in health care.

That’s the message from the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation.

Last week, a petition of more than 2,795 signatures supporting abortion law reform was handed to Chief Minister Howard Quayle by the pro-choice group.

Since Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson obtained leave to introduce a private member’s bill, at the start of the year, a public consultation has taken place and it has been revealed that packages have been intercepted by customs officers after women resorted to ordering abortion pills on the internet.

Deborah McCann was one of several CALM supporters who handed over the petition. She said: ’Abortion should be available, free and legal, in the Isle of Man.

’It might not be everyone’s choice, when they find themselves pregnant, but it should be something that is taken out of the criminal world and become part of our system of reproductive health care.

’It is time for political courage.’

She added: ’The Isle of Man was one of the first countries to give women the vote. This is such an opportunity to lead with this torch for progressive reform.

’It would be an incredible legacy if this long overdue bill became law. A legacy for Dr Allinson and the chief minister - and Tynwald.’

CALM spokesman Stephanie Kelsey said the current law, as it stood, was ’unworkable’ and women had to travel away for abortions - or resort to ordering pills over the internet.

She said the current legislation had been cited by legal experts as an example of how not to draw up a law.

’It is there in statute, but it is unworkable.’

She praised Dr Allinson and said the support he received both at the ballot box and in the consultation on his draft bill demonstrated that the mood was for change.

’We need to continue lobbying until it is fully signed off and becomes law,’ she added.

In August, Dr Allinson published a first draft of his Abortion Reform Bill, which was followed by a six-week consultation.

The bill aims to allow early access to counselling and abortion services.

Up to 14 weeks, abortion would be available on request. For 15-24 weeks, it would be available if a woman’s life or health was in danger, or if the developing foetus had a fatal abnormality or a serious developmental defect.

After 24 weeks, termination would be allowed only if a termination was necessary to prevent ’grave permanent injury’ to the pregnant woman or the continued pregnancy posed a greater threat to her life than if the pregnancy was terminated; or if there was a ’substantial risk’ of the baby dying after birth or suffering a serious handicap.

The consultation showed overwhelming support for reform.

Some 77.7% of 3,644 responses were from women, and 21.8% from men.

Of those, 87% (3,171 respondents) agreed a woman should have the choice to request an abortion up to 14 weeks.

A total of 84.7% agreed a rape victim should be able to request an abortion without reporting the offence.

Some 81.5% agreed that a woman should be able to request a termination at any stage of the pregnancy, including after 24 weeks, if the foetus had a fatal abnormality.

A total of 73.2% thought that there were circumstances in which an abortion should be provided after the 24th week.

ro-life group Humanity and Equality in Abortion Reform (HEAR) described the bill in its initial format as ’extremely regressive legislation’, with a ’number of seriously flawed provisions that would make Manx abortion law significantly more inhumane’.