A council in London is consulting local residents on extending a buffer zone despite the fact that there have been no violations of the present one because it was introduced in 2019.
Richmond Council, which has had a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around an abortion clinic in Twickenham since April 2019, admits that since its implementation, “there have been no known breaches of the restrictions within the buffer zone area and there have been no further petitions, complaints or concerns raised with the Council”.
However, despite the proven fact that laws exist already to stop intimidation and harassment, the Council is consulting residents on renewing the buffer zone for an additional three years.
The existing local buffer zone or PSPO prohibits “engaging in any act of approval or disapproval or attempted act of approval or disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services” and explicitly includes prayer and “any type of counselling or interaction with residents or BPAS clients on the road”.
The consultation asks residents whether or not they agree or disagree with the proposal to renew the buffer zone, whether or not they agree or disagree that the buffer zone has “been effective in reducing the detrimental impact on the locality”, and whether or not they agree or disagree that ought to the buffer zone not be renewed, activities prohibited by the buffer zone will return and have “detrimental effects” on the locality.
£13,000 payout
The buffer zone consultation will come to a detailed shortly after a girl who had been arrested twice for silently praying outside an abortion clinic received a £13,000 payout in acknowledgement of her unjust treatment.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce made a claim against West Midlands Police for 2 wrongful arrests and false imprisonments; assault and battery in relation to an intrusive search of her person; and for a breach of her human rights each in respect to the arrests, and to the onerous bail conditions imposed on her.
Isabel was first arrested in November 2022 after she told police she “might” be silently praying whilst she was standing on a public street near an abortion clinic in Birmingham. She had no signs or outward expression of political beliefs of any kind. She was in complete silence. Police officers, who had received a criticism from an onlooker, approached her and started to ask her what she was doing.
She was searched, arrested after which interrogated. Police showed her pictures of herself standing near the clinic and asked her if she was praying. Isabel said she “might” have been praying but couldn’t recall if she was praying at these specific moments, or whether she was fascinated with something else, resembling her lunch.
Even though she was acquitted of all charges in February 2023, she was arrested again, just weeks later for allegedly breaching a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which bans protests outside abortion clinics inside a delegated area.
While Isabel has received an apology and compensation for her treatment by the hands of the police, two other members of the general public are set to face trial for alleged offences in locally imposed buffer zones. A military veteran, Adam Smith-Connor who prayed silently about his own encounter with abortion near a facility in Bournemouth is anticipated to face trial at Poole Magistrates’ Court. A pensioner from Dorset, Livia Tossici-Bolt, can be being prosecuted for holding up an indication inside an abortion clinic buffer zone reading “Here to speak in case you want”.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said, “The buffer zone across the abortion clinic in Twickenham was introduced to tackle an issue for which laws already exists. If the behaviour of those alleged protests is harassment, the council wouldn’t simply move them further down the road but need to stop them entirely.
“Where there’s harassment and intimidation it should and could be prevented by existing laws. What these buffer zones do is criminalise offers of help and alternatives to abortion. It is direct viewpoint discrimination.”
