Published Article

HeadlineCall for change in law after Finsbury Park anti-abortion protests

Short HeadlineChange in law called after anti-abortion protests

StandfirstProtest 'buffer zones' have already been set up at Richmond and Ealing clinics.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is calling on the Home Office to introduce mandatory buffer zones around abortion clinics.

This follows recent protests at their Finsbury Park branch.

BPAS, who run clinics across the UK, say that demonstrations can be upsetting and intimidating to women accessing they treatments.

They argue that the government should change the law and create buffer zones around all abortion clinics to protect women.

Rachael Clarke, BPAS’s public affairs and advocacy manager, says that the current regulations do not go far enough to protect clients.

Ms Clarke said: “We want the government to take the experiences of these vulnerable women seriously”.

Currently Richmond and Ealing council have introduced protection orders to set up buffer zones around abortion clinics.

In both cases, evidence of near constant harassment was needed before the order could be granted. In Ealing, a clinic was consistently targeted for 23 years before buffer zones were set up.

“This is the first time Finsbury Park has been targeted but that doesn’t make it any less intimidating for our clients who were using the service on that day,” said Ms Clarke.

She fears that some pro-life advocates are now targeting different clinics in response.

BPAS say it should not take years of harassment and intimidation before demonstrations outside clinics can be restricted.

But Alithea Williams from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) believes mandatory buffer zones would violate the right to free speech.

“Obviously women seeking an abortion shouldn’t be targeted with abuse,” she says, “but many of these women are vulnerable and often our supporters want to be able to inform them about the alternatives or at the very least pray for them or their child.”

SPUC does not organise demonstrations outside clinics, but many of its supporters are involved in them.

What happened at the protest?

The protest at BPAS’s Finsbury Park clinic was carried out by a local religious group of around forty-five people.

They stood opposite the clinic praying and calling out to people using the service. Some of the group were dressed in monk-like clothing.

A few members of the group approached clients of the clinic with leaflets and posted them on cars in the area.

Is anything likely to change?

The Home Office responded saying: “There are already powers in place for police to restrict harmful protest activity.”

Although, BPAS argues that whilst demonstrations like the one at Finsbury Park are not outwardly aggressive, they can leave clients feeling distressed.

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