Buffer zones will be enforced around abortion clinics in England and Wales from 31 October. The zones are designed to protect women from harassment and distress, extending to a 150-meter radius around clinics and prohibiting protest. Anyone caught breaking the law will face an unlimited fine. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service called the implementation of the zones “long overdue,” while anti-abortion charity Right to Life UK warned that women would lose access to “vital practical support.”
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said that the right to access abortion services is a fundamental right for women and that no one should feel unsafe when seeking medical care. The law was passed by Parliament in May 2023, but the government waited to launch a guidance consultation before enforcing the buffer zones. Campaigners criticized the delay, calling for legislation to be enacted sooner.
Under the new law, obstructing women from obtaining abortions, causing harassment or distress, or attempting to influence their decision to obtain medical care will be illegal. Silent prayer, which was initially excluded from the ban in initial drafts of the guidance, will fall under the jurisdiction of the law. Police and prosecutors will receive guidance on enforcing the law in the coming weeks.
Buffer zones have also been introduced in Northern Ireland, and Scotland will follow suit on 24 September. Heidi Stewart, head of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, welcomed the implementation of the zones, citing years of anti-abortion fanatics disrupting the care of women accessing health services. Catherine Robinson, a spokesperson for Right to Life UK, argued that the zones would “remove essential practical support” provided by volunteers outside clinics
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