Can you make a submission to the Public Bill Committee?

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** Rupa Huq MP tables new buffer zones amendment
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Dear
SPUC supporter,
Following her threats during Tuesday’s debate ([link removed]) on the Government’s Public Order Bill, Rupa Huq MP has now tabled an amendment that would ban pro-life vigils outside abortion clinics.

The amendment, if passed, would make it an offence to interfere “with any person’s decision to access, provide, or facilitate the provision of abortion services in that buffer zone” – an offence punishable by up to two years in prison. The text of the amendment can be seen here ([link removed]) .

The amendment will be debated by a Public Bill Committee, in the coming weeks.


** Make a submission
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Can you submit a short submission to this committee? If the amendment is not accepted by the Committee, it will be stopped in its tracks.

The key point to make is: Reject New Clause 1.

Other points to explain why this clause should be rejected include:
* Buffer zones deny 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 1 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: Public Order Bill 2022.
* 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) .

Many of you will remember submitting evidence to a Public Bill Committee when Dr Huq submitted an identical amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 this time last year. The hundreds of submissions ([link removed]) made was doubtless a major factor in the amendment being rejected. If you did, you can submit the same thing again – just make sure you change it to New Clause 1!

Thank you for campaigning with us to defend pro-life witness.

Best wishes,
Alithea Williams
Public Policy Manager

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