The US State Department has said it’s closely monitoring the prosecution of a Christian woman who prayed silently in an abortion clinic buffer zone.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed just before Christmas that Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was being criminally charged.
She is the primary to be charged since recent laws for so-called “secure access zones” were rolled out across England and Wales in October 2024 under Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023. Prior to this, motion was taken against pro-lifers by local authorities using powers regarding Public Spaces Protection Orders.
A spokesman for the US State Department told The Telegraph newspaper that the choice to prosecute her was “concerning” and suggested that it could undermine US-UK relations.
“The decision to prosecute a lady engaged in silent prayer isn’t only concerning by way of its impact on respect for fundamental freedoms of expression and religion or belief, but can also be an unwelcome departure from the shared values that should underpin US-UK relations,” he said.
“We are monitoring Isabel’s case closely. It is common sense that standing silently and offering conversation shouldn’t constitute harm.”
Vaughan-Spruce’s first hearing is scheduled for 29 January at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court. She has previously been exonerated on similar charges and said it was “unbelievable” she was being prosecuted again.
“Silent prayer – or holding pro-life beliefs – cannot possibly be against the law. Everyone has the appropriate to freedom of thought,” said Vaughan-Spruce, who’s being supported by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF UK).
March for Life UK, of which Vaughan-Spruce is co-director, is asking people to hope ahead of her court hearing.
“Bearing in mind that Isabel was not even offering conversation and engaged with nobody in any respect, [the US State Department’s] statement highlights just how farcical and troubling the situation has grow to be within the UK,” said March for Life UK.
Silent prayer in abortion clinic buffer zones isn’t mechanically breaking the law, in response to guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service which has previously said it would take a case-by-case approach.
Vaughan-Spruce isn’t the one person to be charged over alleged breaches of secure access zone regulations.
Glasgow grandmother Rose Docherty was arrested and criminally charged under Scottish laws for holding an indication reading “Coercion is against the law, here to speak, only for those who want” inside 200m of a Glasgow abortion facility. She had her first hearing on 19 December and can have her next hearing on 13 January 2026.
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