Safe zones outside abortion clinics come into effect

From today, "safe access zones" will be introduced to create a 150m-wide area outside clinics to stop anti-abortion campaigners from handing out leaflets, holding vigils and showing graphic images to women near the sites.

The protection areas will be introduced outside all abortion clinics in England and Wales to ensure woman seeking abortion services will be 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were made possible by the passage of a bill a year and a half ago, but the debate inside parliament was so heated, draft guidance was produced and the measures were delayed by a public consultation.

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Today, those boundaries will come into force and stop the sort of harassment from anti-abortion campaigners nurse Kendall Robbins says she experiences almost daily.

"We've been called names as we come into work, we've had instances where they've tried to physically block people coming in, sing hymns, images of the Virgin Mary, 16 people turn up for an hour or two," Ms Robbins said.

"Women coming in are vulnerable, making one of the hardest decisions they've had to make. Having that aspect of people calling them names or passing judgment is something that's really distressing."

Police will now have discretion to consider each case individually, but examples of harassment could include: handing out anti-abortion leaflets, protesting against abortion rights, or shouting at individuals attempting to access abortion services.

Right To Life campaigner Madeline Page is particularly concerned this could also cover silent prayer and holding vigils. She says protesters are trying to offer support to women, despite often approaching them at a very vulnerable time.

She said: "I don't think it's fair to say that not every woman that goes into an abortion clinic is happy about that. I think pro-choicers would agree with me on that, too. And so, if they can be given resources or something else to help them make a different choice, then I think that's something that we really ought to be doing. Regardless of which side of the argument you're on."

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance states that a person carrying out activities within a zone such as silent prayer "will not necessarily commit a criminal offence".

It adds: "Prosecutors will need to consider not only all the facts and circumstances of the particular conduct, but also the context in which the conduct takes place."

The Home Office listed silent prayer as being among examples of behaviour which could amount to an offence - alongside holding vigils and handing out anti-abortion leaflets.

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Rupa Huq is a Labour MP, who has not only campaigned for these changes, but brought the original legislation to parliament.

"It's quite an emotional moment really, because women have been fighting for years on this. And in my own area from the 90s, I remember as a kid seeing the intimidation that went on," she said.

"So it is high time and that's what happens when you have a Labour government. MPs had overwhelmingly voted for this under the Conservatives, but they dragged their heels and found any excuse to obfuscate."

Legislation creating buffer zones around abortion clinics in Scotland came into force in September, while they have been in place in Northern Ireland for a year.

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