London, England, Jul 2, 2018 / 11:39 am
The High Court of England and Wales ruled Monday that a buffer zone around an abortion facility in the London borough of Ealing is legal, in a move that will likely encourage similar buffer zones in the United Kingdom.
While the ban was found to interfere with the human rights of pro-life protesters, it was ruled July 2 that the local government had a right to decide it was a "necessary step in a democratic society."
"There was substantial evidence that a very considerable number of users of the clinic reasonably felt that their privacy was being very seriously invaded at a time and place when they were most vulnerable," said Justice Turner.
He added that the Ealing council was "entitled to conclude that the effect of the activities of the protesters was likely to make such activities unreasonable and justified the restrictions imposed."