Police now have powers to take women’s phones and access their period tracking apps

A NPCC spokesperson issued a statement.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) announced this power shift in May, with staff now lawfully permitted to check menstrual cycle tracking apps during stillbirth, miscarriage and unexpected pregnancy investigations. Their houses may also be searched for abortion drugs.

This crackdown hopes to 'establish a woman's knowledge and intention in relation to the pregnancy', while such checks will 'only be initiated where there is credible information to suggest criminal activity'.

An NPCC spokesperson added: "Police do not routinely investigate unexpected pregnancy loss.

"We recognise how traumatic the experience of losing a child is, with many complexities involved, and any investigation of this nature and individuals will always be treated with the utmost sensitivity and compassion."

In England, abortions are legal up to 24 weeks but they must be carried out in a hospital or clinic.

Since the legislation came into practise, women's health and safety experts have condemned this apparent invasion of privacy.

Rhiannon White, speaking on behalf of menstrual health app Clue, told Stylist: "We have never - and will never - share health data with authorities. We will aggressively challenge any such requests and will never allow our members' data to be used against them."

Per The Times, founder of the Centre for Women's Justice, Harriet Wistrich, went on to describe the "failure to consult on such a controversial piece of police guidance" as "concerning".

She elaborated: "The experience of late termination is often traumatic and to compound this with an intrusive investigation into the woman concerned is an outrageous waste of the limited resources available to criminal justice agencies, who should be focussing on protecting the public from real crime."