Rupa Huq is trying to amend the Police Bill

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** Action Alert: Stop new move to criminalise pro-lifers
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27 May 2021
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Dear
SPUC supporter,
Pro-abortion MP Rupa Huq is set to make it a crime for pro-lifers to offer help to women outside an abortion clinic and save the lives of unborn babies. Dr Huq has tabled an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 which would impose a buffer zone around every hospital doing abortions and abortion clinic in England and Wales. Her amendment is New Clause 43.


** Criminalising pro-lifers
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SPUC campaigns to defend the right of pro-lifers to take part in peaceful pro-life vigils outside abortion clinics and hospitals where last- minute help is offered to pregnant women. New Clause 43 is yet another attempt to criminalise pro-lifers for trying to save the lives of unborn babies and rescue women from abortion.


** Reject New Clause 43
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We must stop New Clause 43 from being included in this Bill. Please send a brief submission to the Public Bill Committee which is scrutinising the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021.

The key point to make is: Reject New Clause 43.

Other points to explain why this clause should be rejected include:
* Buffer zones deny women last-minute help to women, including those who feel pressured or have been coerced into having an abortion.
* Peaceful pro-life vigils are not protests.
* Pro-lifers at peaceful vigils do not behave in a harassing or intimidating manner. They are simply praying and making it clear that help is available.
* Many children are alive today because their mother met a loving pro-life person directly outside the abortion clinic – where desperate women most need help.
* New Clause 43 is an attack on freedom of expression.
* In 2018 the Home Office did an extensive review ([link removed]) on vigils around abortion clinics and concluded that “introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response, considering the experiences of the majority of hospitals and clinics, and considering that the majority of activities are more passive in nature”.
* Praying and offering help to women who do not want to go ahead with their abortion, should not be tacked onto this bill and made a criminal offence.


Please include any other points you would like to make in your submission to the Committee, including any personal experience you have.
Your submission should be set out in a Word or similar document and must include:
* Heading: Evidence re: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021.
* Your name and address.
* The points you want to make to the Committee. (See bullet points above.)
* Number your paragraphs.

Please email your submission to: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Evidence%20re%20Police%2C%20Crime%20and%20Sentencing%20Bill%20) If you would like any help in making your submission, please email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Best wishes,

Antonia Tully
Director of Campaigns


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