A Catholic pro-life volunteer, twice arrested for praying silently outside an abortion clinic, has received a £13,000 payout from West Midlands police.
On receiving the payout, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, Director of March for Life UK, said: “Discrimination against pro-lifers is not acceptable.”
West Midlands police twice previously arrested Vaughan-Spruce for praying silently outside an abortion clinic in Birmingham before issuing an apology.
In the first case, in November 2022, she was cleared of wrongdoing. For the second case, in February 2023, the investigation was scrapped. Since pursuing a claim against West Midlands Police, Vaughan-Spruce received a £13,000 payout on 19 August, recognising their unjust treatment of her and breach of her human rights.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce said: “I'm delighted to have acknowledgement that both my arrests were a clear violation of my most basic human rights and I hope this sends a signal to police forces around the country that discrimination against pro-lifers is not acceptable.”
The Public Order Act of 2023 states that it is illegal to pray for and counsel women entering abortion clinics within a 150m radius. It is being promoted by the new government, but pro-life supporters fear they will be arrested for praying and handing out leaflets to people outside abortion clinics.
In Bournemouth, two pro-life advocates, Adam Smith-Connor and Livia Tossici-Bolt, await trial in relation to locally-imposed “buffer zones”. Both were praying silently outside abortion clinics, with Tossici-Bolt holding a sign that said: “Here to talk if you want.”
ADF UK, who supported Vaughan-Spruce, shared concerns about Government plans to criminalise silent prayer outside abortion centres. ADF’s Jeremiah Igunnubole said the plans expose “the crisis of free speech and thought in the UK today”.
Vaughan-Spruce said: “It was a shock that something so Orwellian could still happen in 21st century Britain. Silent prayer is not a crime. I trust with this vindication that other Christians will not feel deterred from getting actively involved in such a key issue as protecting our most vulnerable citizens.”
Senior Conservative peer Lord Frost said he was “glad” Vaughan-Spruce had been compensated for her “unjust arrest”. Fellow Conservative peer Lord Farmer condemned the case as a “travesty of justice”.
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