New laws could be introduced to protect women from being harassed and intimidated at abortion clinics, the Home Office has said.

The Government has ordered an in-depth assessment of protests outside family planning clinics following concerns about the tactics used by some demonstrators.

The review aims to gather evidence from police forces, healthcare providers and local authorities before considering what action can be taken to protect those using or working in abortion clinics.

The Government said this could include “bolstering existing or creating new police and civil powers”.

Police already have a range of powers to manage protests while current laws provide protection against harassment, and the Government said all suspected offences will be robustly investigated.

But the Government added the review, to be conducted by Home Office officials, will consider what more needs to be done, looking at international comparisons in the light of similar protests in Australia, France and the United States.

As reported in October, women in Scotland are to be the first in the UK to be allowed to take the abortion pill at home.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) had been lobbying to change the law in the UK and welcomed the development.

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood wrote to health boards to say that misoprostol can be taken by women outside a clinical setting.