Widespread opposition to abortion clinic buffer zones in Scotland

A public consultation about proposals to introduce abortion clinic ‘buffer zones’ across Scotland has revealed widespread opposition.

Over three quarters of respondents (77%) to the Scottish Parliament consultation said they disagreed with the “overall purpose” of Gillian McKay’s Bill.

Her Bill proposes the introduction of buffer zones nationwide that may ban vigils and other pro-life activity, including silent prayer and offers of assistance, inside 200m of an abortion clinic. However, local authorities can be permitted to expand the parameter to a vast extent. 

The scope of the Bill includes anything that’s “visible or audible” inside a buffer zone, which pro-life groups say could see private home owners or churches criminalised for displaying signs of their windows offering help.

Right to Life said the Bill could catch out conversations that happen in private homes or outside churches in the event that they are audible inside a buffer zone.

Anyone convicted of breaching the buffer zone may very well be fined as much as £10,000 or receive a vast fantastic.

There were 5,858 responses to the consultation, led by the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care, and Sport Committee. Only a fifth (22%) supported the Bill’s proposals. 

The results of the consultation correspond with findings from a Savanta ComRes poll wherein lower than a 3rd (30%) of Scots supported the introduction of nationwide buffer zones.

The Health, Social Care, and Sport Committee has already agreed to the general principles of the Bill.

Right to Life warned that the Bill would introduce the “world’s most extreme abortion buffer zone law” to Scotland. 

Right To Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said it might deprive women of significant support.

“Many women have been helped outside abortion clinics by pro-life volunteers who’ve provided them with practical support, which made it clear to them that they’d an alternative choice aside from going through with the abortion,” she said. 

“The proposed law change would mean that the vital practical support provided by volunteers outside abortion clinics will likely be removed for girls and plenty of more lives would likely be lost to abortion.

“This is a very draconian piece of laws that reaches into the homes of abnormal people. It creates an offence for being publicly pro-life. It is direct viewpoint discrimination.

“No one else is penalised for hanging the flag of their favourite football team from their window, or having a ‘Vote Labour’ sign, but when a person or a church desires to display an indication, from inside their very own property, which says ‘Pregnant? We will help’, they could be guilty of violating this buffer zone laws.

“This laws just isn’t only a direct attack on free expression and public association based on viewpoint, it’s entirely unnecessary insofar as harassment and intimidation are already illegal. Wherever they occur, existing laws can and ought to be used to place a stop to them.”