Ealing Council in west London has voted unanimously in favour of introducing a buffer zone around an abortion clinic after women complained of intimidation by protestors.
One Catholic group, the Good Counsel Network, which holds daily vigils outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Mattock Lane, denies harassing women.
The council voted in favour of implementing a public spaces protection order (PSPO) around the clinic in a cabinet meeting late on Tuesday (10 April). The decision means both anti-abortion and pro-choice campaigners cannot stand within 100 metres of the clinic. Once a PSPO is introduced, anyone who breaches the order would be committing a criminal offence and can be fined or prosecuted under the law.
The vote was taken after the council received 2,181 online survey responses and more than 1,500 emails and letters. Council officers also consulted with police, community representatives and people living and working in the proposed safe zone area.
Mark Wiltshire, the director of safer communities and housing, addressed the meeting with the consultation’s findings. He said that 81 per cent of respondents had seen the concerning behaviours from protestors, while 83 per cent had seen explicit imagery. Over 85 per cent were supportive of the proposed PSPO.
Following the meeting, council leader, Julian Bell, said he felt the cabinet had done absolutely the right thing.
He added: “I’m personally a practising Christian myself and so I think it’s important to recognise that this is about protecting women from harassment and intimidation. We’ve always been clear that that’s what this was about. It wasn’t a debate for or against abortion.”
Clare McCullough of the Good Counsel Network denied that women were being harassed and said women had been helped because of their efforts.
“These are women who have no alternative but abortion – illegal immigrants, victims of domestic violence. We’re telling them there are alternatives if they want them.”
The Be Here For Me campaign, which is run by a group of mothers helped by vigil members outside of abortion clinics, described the decision to implement the buffer zone as “expected”. They said Ealing council’s public consultation prior to the vote was a sham.
"We're here to support women who maybe feel they don't have any other choice than abortion and don't want an abortion," a spokesperson said.
A petition sent by the group to Ealing Council leader Julian Bell opposing the introduction of censorship zones prior to the vote was signed by 5,960 people.
Richard Bentley, Marie Stopes UK managing director, told the BBC: "This is a landmark decision for women.This was never about protest. It was about small groups of strangers choosing to gather by our entrance gates where they could harass and intimidate women and try to prevent them from accessing healthcare to which they are legally entitled."
Over the past six months, London boroughs of Lambeth and Richmond, along with authorities in Birmingham, Manchester, Portsmouth have discussed taking action to prevent harassment outside of abortion clinics.
In November last year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced a review into intimidation and harassment by demonstrators outside clinics.
She said: “While everyone has a right to peaceful protest, it is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel harassed or intimidated simply for exercising their legal right to healthcare advice and treatment.
“The decision to have an abortion is already an incredibly personal one, without women being further pressured by aggressive protesters.”
PICTURE: Pro-choice demonstrators (foreground) face pro-life demonstrators outside the Marie Stopes clinic on Mattock Lane, ahead of a vote by Ealing Council on whether to implement a safe zone outside the west London abortion clinic to protect women from being intimidated ©PA
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