Safe zones outside abortion clinics come into effect

From today, “safe access zones” will be created outside clinics, a 150-metre wide area to prevent anti-abortion campaigners from handing out leaflets, holding vigils and showing censorious images to women near these areas.

Safeguarding areas will be created outside all abortion clinics in England and Wales to ensure women seeking abortion services are better protected from harassment or distress.

The changes were made possible by the passage of a bill a year and a half ago, but the debate in parliament was so heated that draft guidance was prepared and the measures were postponed pending public consultation.

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Today these limits will come into force, bringing an end to the kind of abuse that anti-abortion campaigners’ nurse Kendall Robbins faces on an almost daily basis.

“We’ve been called names when we come to work, we’ve had situations where they’re physically trying to stop people from coming in, they’re chanting hymns, they’re chanting images of the Virgin Mary, we’ve had 16 people show up for an hour or two.” Ms. Robbins said.

“Women are vulnerable and making one of the hardest decisions they’ve ever had to make. It’s a really sad thing when people call them names or judge them.”

Police will now have the discretion to consider each case on a case-by-case basis, but examples of harassment may include: distributing anti-abortion leaflets, protesting against abortion rights or shouting at people trying to access abortion services.

Right to Life campaigner Madeline Page is particularly concerned that this could include silent prayer and vigil. She says the protesters were trying to offer support to the women, even though they were approaching them at a very sensitive time.

She said: “I don’t think it’s fair to say that not every woman who goes to an abortion clinic is happy with it. I think pro-choice people would agree with me on that too. “If there are resources or something to help them make a different choice, I think that’s something no matter which side of the debate you’re on. , it’s something we really need to do.”

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance states that a person engaging in activities such as silent prayer in an area “will not necessarily commit an offence”.

He adds: “Prosecutors will need to consider not only all the facts and circumstances surrounding particular conduct, but also the context in which the conduct occurred.”

The Home Office listed silent prayer, such as holding vigils and distributing anti-abortion leaflets, as examples of behavior that could constitute a criminal offence.

Rupa Huq is a Labor MP who not only campaigned for these changes, but also introduced the original legislation to parliament.

“This is a really emotional moment because women have been fighting this issue for years. I remember seeing the intimidation in my area since the 90s, when I was a child,” she said.

“So it’s time, and that’s what happens when you have a Labor government. MPs had overwhelmingly voted for it under the Conservatives, but they didn’t give up and found every excuse to keep it under wraps.”

Legislation creating a buffer zone around Abortion clinics in Scotland It came into force in Northern Ireland in September, having been in force for a year.

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