Buffer zone

“This isn’t 1984, but 2023 —I should never have been arrested or investigated simply for the thoughts I held in my own mind,” Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for praying outside of an abortion clinic, said.

‘Buffer zone’ law banning anti-abortion protests goes into effect in England and Wales

Oct 31, 2024

The law makes “interference with any person’s decision to access, provide, or facilitate the provision of abortion services” within 500... Read more

Isabel Spruce-Vaughn was arrested twice for praying outside abortion clinics.

Nearly 60,000 join call for UK prime minister to safeguard right to pray silently

Oct 29, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

The letter, circulated by Alliance Defending Freedom UK, notes that buffer zone laws “have quickly become thought- and speech-restricting ‘censorship... Read more

UK bishops warn new Public Order Act unfairly affects people of faith

Sep 19, 2024

By Madeleine Teahan

Bishops of England and Wales have condemned legislation relating to prayer outside abortion clinics, saying it represents a step backward... Read more

New bill introduces world’s most extreme abortion buffer zone law to Scotland

Oct 14, 2023

By Madeleine Teahan

The bill, if passed, would make any form of pro-life outreach or demonstration within 656 feet of an abortion clinic... Read more

“This isn’t 1984, but 2023 —I should never have been arrested or investigated simply for the thoughts I held in my own mind,” Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for praying outside of an abortion clinic, said Sept. 22, 2023.

Woman arrested for silent prayer at UK abortion clinics gets police apology

Sep 22, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce has received a police apology and confirmation that she will not face charges for violating a local “buffer... Read more

A pro-life woman is arrested for praying silently in alleged violation of a local buffer zone law.

UK home secretary tells police that ‘silent prayer’ is not a crime

Sep 8, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s comments follow several arrests of pro-life activists for praying outside of abortion clinics. Read more

Adam Smith-Connor was fined for “praying for [his] son, who is deceased” near an abortion facility in Bournemouth, England.

UK man fined for praying outside abortion clinic now faces criminal charges

Aug 4, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Authorities have filed criminal charges against Adam Smith-Connor, who was fined in 2022 for praying silently within an abortion facility... Read more

Father Sean Gough, a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England, faced criminal charges for praying for free speech outside an abortion clinic after business hours in violation of a strict buffer zone law in the English city of Birmingham. “I pray wherever I go, inside my head, for the people around me. How can it be a crime for a priest to pray?” he said in a Feb. 9, 2023, statement from the ADF UK legal group.

UK bishops say law criminalizing prayer outside of abortion clinics is discriminatory

Mar 16, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic bishops in the United Kingdom said a new law criminalizing prayer and outreach outside abortion clinics discriminates against people... Read more