Ealing - changing the law on abortion clinic buffer zones

 

An Amendment to the Public Order Bill, which had its final reading in the House of Commons on 7 March 2023 will now become law after it receives Royal Assent. It introduces a safe access zone of 150 metres around abortion clinics where harassing, obstructing or interfering with anyone accessing or providing abortion services will become a criminal offence. A person found guilty will face a fine or jail. It adopts nationwide a model first implemented in Ealing which creates an area around abortion clinics which is safe from protestors. 

 

Ealing Council made history on 10 April 2018 by putting in place the first ever “Safe Access Zone” around an abortion clinic in the UK. Ealing Council implemented a public spaces protection order (PSPO) around the Marie Stopes Clinic on Mattock Lane, Ealing which was originally put in place for 3 years and extended in 2021 for a further 3 years preventing both anti-abortion and pro-choice campaigners from standing within 100 metres of the clinic.   This safe access zone was to ensure that people seeking treatment and staff could access the clinic privately free from harassment or intimidation. Anti-choice campaigners challenged the decision in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court but all such appeals were all overruled.

 

The PSPO was put in place because of complaints that those protesting in the area around the clinic had a detrimental effect on staff working at the clinic, visitors to the clinic and those passing through the area as well as residents as the Marie Stopes Clinic is situated in a residential area. Sister Supporter, an Ealing based pro-choice and anti-harassment organisation felt that women and staff were being harassed in the area around the abortion clinic. Sister Supporter was founded by Ealing residents in November 2015 following more than two decades of harassment and intimidation of women accessing the clinic. Over 3,566 local residents signed their petition asking for the PSPO around the clinic which led to Ealing Council approving it.

 

Following Ealing’s success, Richmond, Manchester, Bournemouth and Birmingham put in place their own PSPO’s and subsequently, Ealing MP, Rupa Huq was the first MP to introduce a bill into Parliament to create safe access zones in 2020. The amendment to the Public Order Bill will introduce a nationwide ban on activity within safe access zones in England and Wales.  Northern Ireland brought in a bill in 2022 but access to abortion remains limited there and the introduction of buffer zones has become a key campaign issue in the election of the First Minister in Scotland with private members bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

 

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service who campaign to remove barriers to reproductive choice  consider the Amendment to be the result of a 14 year campaign to introduce buffer zones and a significant legislative achievement.

 

Anti-abortion group 40 Days for Life protest in Ealing and they have to operate from the edge of the buffer zone. I spoke to a member of the Ealing 40 Days for Life team who is convinced that they are saving dozens of babies lives by handing our materials and engaging women in conversation. They pledge to offer financial help, accommodation, medical care or moral support to provide an alternative to abortion.  The photos show some of the materials used to influence those accessing the clinic to reconsider.  She describes it as a peaceful and educational presence and that they do not harass women accessing the services. Rupa Huq however in Parliament argued that “Any person using medical services should be able to do so without navigating an obstacle course of people trying to impose their view of what is right into the process to dissuade and deter”. She added that the safe access zone doesn’t limit people’s right to protest and that people can still have their say but “move them [the protestors] away from the clinic door”.

 

Rupa Huq stated that “The original buffer zone outside the Marie Stopes clinic has had a transformative impact for women seeking access to healthcare they are legally entitled to. Ordinary citizens have thanked me. They’re now able to use the pavement without having to avert their eyes from the clinic becoming the scene of debate, confrontation and public spectacle. The Ealing model will now be available to all women nationwide”.

 

It is not often that events in your own area change things nationally and it will be interesting to see the impact of safe access zones across the UK.