A Women, 30's who put her dead baby outside a Church, has been arrested

[arista]

[A woman has been arrested following
the discovery of the body of a baby
in Notting Hill, west London.
The newborn was found by a council worker
in a Marks & Spencer bag outside
All Saints' Church last Tuesday.
The Metropolitan Police said a woman,
aged in her 30s, was safely located on Saturday
and was then arrested on suspicion
of concealing a birth, neglect and infanticide.

Officers said she was immediately taken
to a nearby hospital for treatment
and to ensure all necessary medical care
was provided to her.

She remains in hospital currently.]

https://news.sky.com/story/woman-arrested-after-body-of-baby-found-in-bag-in-notting-hill-13339342

This Law is well out of Date.

[Quantum Boy]

It's complicated really - arresting/punishing for something like this means it's less likely that others in future will feel they can do what one assumes they at that point thought was the "right" thing (leaving the body of the baby to be found at a church, rather than attempting to cover it up entirely) and it also makes people less likely to seek medical attention (although it sounds like in this case she hadn't done so anyway).

Tragic situation all round really, regardless of circumstances of the death.

[arista]

No need to arrest her

[Quantum Boy]

No need to arrest her

I agree if it was a stillbirth or unavoidable death soon after for a medical reason. It's a bit murkier if it was a live birth and the death was due to neglect.

[Liam-]

Sorry but if it was a still birth, there are many other options than putting the body in a carrier bag and leaving it at a church, there are laws against the dumping of corpses for a reason

[Quantum Boy]

Sorry but if it was a still birth, there are many other options than putting the body in a carrier bag and leaving it at a church, there are laws against the dumping of corpses for a reason

There are but harsh punishments mean that, in the same situation, people are likely to go for even-worse options (i.e disposing of entirely in complete secret, or attempting to do so).

[Livia]

Arrested on suspicion of neglect and infanticide doesn't suggest to me that the baby was stillborn. I wonder if the baby was alive when she dumped it like rubbish.