Buffer Zone at BPAS clinic in Twickenham

Have just signed it. It does sicken me seeing how much these poor women, who are already in a state of trauma, are being attacked just at their lowest moment. Freedom of expression is one thing, but this is just bullying.

One thing I did say though is that the buffer zone should fall short of St Stephen's Church. There's always a balance to be struck I suppose.

I think a case could be made that what they are doing doesn't count as a legitimate protest because they aren't actually directing their actions at legislators; they are targeting ordinary members of the public. If they really wanted to protest they would do so in a place where they would be visible to politicians. If this service was being offered in an NHS hospital they would be moved on if they attempted to congregate outside the doors because the hospital would have a duty to protect the well being of all patients. And there are other exemptions to protesting on the grounds on decency - eg: the Westboro Baptist Church were not allowed to come to the UK to protest at funerals.

Ok, so the rights of abusive men to importune women accessing healthcare are more important than the rights of those women to access this healthcare without harassment according to the law.

Men?

All the footage I've seen has shown predominently women protesting.

Done. I can see no justification for clinic protests. I totally get that anti abortion campaigners hold fierce convictions on the subject but they should express these through political campaigns and trying to get the law changed. Personally trying to intervene in women's lives is plain wrong.

Ok, so the rights of abusive men to importune women accessing healthcare are more important than the rights of those women to access this healthcare without harassment according to the law. Cool.

There is a perfectly serviceable church just down the road if all they want to do is hold a prayer vigil, but it's not, because they get off on harassing women. I uphold their right to protest, but you're not allowed to protest wherever you like any more, unless, it seems, it's women you're protesting.

@Turph

You have hit upon the dilemma.

Buffer Zones are rare because they clash with lawful rights to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. The state is expected to facilitate peaceful protests and to that end:

• the police have to be tolerant of a degree of disruption

• in case law, the authorities insist that it would be unacceptable to restrict where and how the peaceful protesters can assemble.

^the right of the defendants to assemble for the purpose of expressing and discussing those views, extends to the manner in which the defendants wish to express their views and to the location where they wish to express and exchange their views.
If it were otherwise, these fundamental human rights would be at risk of emasculation^ " (Hall v Mayor of London, 2010)

It's different when the police anticipate that the assembly isn't going to be peaceful. Where there are threats of violence and a risk of disorder anticipated, then the police have Public Order powers to curtail, restrict and prevent the assembly.

I think this will happen:

There will be a Buffer Zone. Protesters will force the police's hand and get themselves arrested. They will sue the Commissioner under the Human Rights Act. They will win and damages plus legal costs will be awarded.

Bump.

I would guess it will be policed in the same way other exclusions are policed - if someone if found to be breaching the exclusion, the police will be called and they can be prosecuted. It does't require security guards, cameras or anything other than normal policing.

I think it raises some pragmatic concerns. Who pays for the buffer zone? Presumably it has to be policed by security staff or at least CCTV and some threat of consequences to those who breach the zone? Again presumably this is why there won't be national legislation concerning it. Does it have implications for other protests? What kind of activity is then legally protected from protest?
I don't like those kind of protesters but it does raise a few questions.

Done!

Done

Done and bump

Done. I have walked past there once or twice and the protesters are utterly abhorrent.

Done. It does read like they are willing people to support the exclusion zone.

Done. Disgusting that protestors are allowed to stand outside and harrass women.

Just say you are a visitor to the area.

Done. Thanks for pointing this out.

Can I fill this out? I don’t live in the area but I’ve never used abortion services either.

This article is useful;
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/09/government-rules-out-buffer-zones-despite-discovering-assaults-outside-abortion

''Javid has instructed Police and Crime Commissioners to offer services to people affected by crimes committed at abortion clinic protests regardless of whether they’ve been reported – but this still requires the women to take action when they’re feeling at their most vulnerable. The onus shouldn’t be on the women.

Harassment charges are also very difficult to bring when most of these women will only encounter the protester or protesters harassing them once or twice while they use the clinic.''

Q 13 is about The Equality Act. A buffer zone does not discriminate against people who hold the belief that abortion is wrong.
Not having a buffer zone discriminates against women trying to access healthcare.

Nobody genuinely interested in preserving and valuing human life would choose to harass women at such a vulnerable time.

Done and bumping. It's really important that we don't forget these older feminist campaigns as we are distracted fighting new ones.

Clinic protestors and those who defend them are the scum of the earth.