Women accessing abortion services will be better protected from
harassment or distress as protection zones come into force around
abortion clinics, the government has confirmed.
From today, a 150m boundary will be in place around all clinics
and hospitals offering abortion services known as a Safe
Access Zone. Within these boundaries it is now a criminal
offence to intentionally or recklessly:
- Influence any person's decision to access or facilitate
abortion services at an abortion clinic.
- Obstruct any person from accessing or facilitating abortion
services at an abortion clinic.
- Cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person in
connection with a decision to access, provide or facilitate
abortion services at an abortion clinic.
Police and prosecutors will consider each case individually based
on the evidence. However, this could include: handing out
anti-abortion leaflets, protesting against abortion rights, or
shouting at individuals attempting to access abortion services.
This could also cover prayer, including silent prayer, holding
vigils, or any behaviour where someone is intentionally trying to
– or recklessly acting in a way that might – influence a person
accessing the service. Anyone found guilty of breaking the new
laws will face an unlimited fine.
The Crown Prosecution Service has published guidance today,
alongside further information from the College of Policing,
setting out how the police and prosecutors should approach
enforcing the new offence. While operational decisions will be
made on a case-by-case basis, this new guidance will ensure there
is clarity and consistency across the country.
Crime & Policing Minister, Dame
said:
“Access to healthcare is a fundamental right. Access to
abortion services is a matter of healthcare. I'm confident that
the safeguards we have put in place today will have a genuine
impact in helping women feel safer and empowered to access the
vital services they need.”
Safeguarding Minister, said:
“Getting this measure up and running as soon as possible has
been one of our priorities and I am proud of everyone involved in
getting us here. The idea that any woman is made to feel unsafe
or harassed for accessing health services, including abortion
clinics is sickening. This stops today.”
The measure applies to any clinics and private hospitals that are
approved under the Abortion Act 1967, and for any NHS hospital
that has given notification in the current or previous calendar
year that it has carried out abortions.
Safe access zones were introduced through the Public Order Act
2023, following a free vote in Parliament that received
cross-party support.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
A “safe access zone” means an area which is within a boundary
which is 150 metres from any part of an abortion clinic
or any access point to any building or site that
contains an abortion clinic and is —
- on or adjacent to a public highway or public right of way,
- in an open space to which the public has access,
- within the curtilage of an abortion clinic, or building or
site which contains an abortion clinic, or
- in any location that is visible from a public highway,
public right of way, open space to which the public have
access, or the curtilage of an abortion clinic.
Guidance from the CPS will be published on Thursday 31 October
and further information will be published on the College of
Policing website. It covers what the Supreme Court decided in
Reference by the Attorney
General for Northern Ireland - Abortion Services (Safe Access
Zones) (Northern Ireland) Bill [2022] UKSC 32
