🔴 Public Order Bill: Buffer Zones amendment sadly passes

Dear Supporter,

I know it’s late, but I wanted to update you on what just happened with buffer zones in the House of Lords.

Sadly, an amendment that will introduce buffer zones has just passed.

An amendment to the Public Order Bill, first introduced in the Commons by Labour MP Stella Creasy with the intent of banning people praying or offering help to women outside abortion clinics, has been making its way through the House of Lords. Tonight, a slightly reworked version of the clause, put forward by former minister Baroness Sugg, was passed by a voice vote at Report Stage.

Baroness Sugg’s amendment makes it an offence to engage in any act which has the effect of “influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services”. A person guilty this offence is “liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale”. While this is a slight improvement to the original intention to jail people for up to two years, Level 5 fines are unlimited.

This is a black day for democracy and basic civil liberties. Ordinary, peaceful citizens will now be branded criminals and subject to crippling financial penalties for the simple act of praying in public, and offering help to women in need. Parliament has literally just criminalised compassion – and without even voting on it.

This is not just an outrageous assault on civil liberties, it removes a real lifeline for women. Many children are alive today because their mother received help and support from a compassionate pro-life person outside a clinic. Many women feel like they have to choice to have an abortion, and pro-life vigils give them options. Now their choices have been taken away.

We know where such legislation ends. In the last month, two people have been arrested under local buffer zones. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce in Birmingham was arrested for ‘maybe praying’ silently, in her head, outside of a closed clinic. Adam Smith-Connor is facing fines for praying, again silently, for his dead son. Thoughtcrime is now very real in the UK.

It is very disappointing that peers ignored these warnings and passed this extreme and cruel legislation.

This amendment will soon return to the House of Commons, and we will be mobilising supporters to contact your MPs.

Thank you for all your efforts in defending pro-life vigils.