..to be disappointed that plans for buffer zones outside abortion clinics have been shelved.

[UpstartCrow]

''Sajid Javid has rejected calls to introduce buffer zones outside abortion clinics to prevent “upsetting” protests because most protestors just pray and hand out leaflets. ''

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/09/13/sajid-javid-rejects-plea-introduce-buffer-zones-outside-abortion/
(needs a share token)

Sajid Javid has rejected a cross-party demand to introduce exclusion zones around all abortion centres in England and Wales, saying it would not be a “proportionate response” despite the harassment that takes place outside some clinics.

www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/13/sajid-javid-rejects-call-exclusion-zones-outside-abortion-clinics-england-wales

Local councils have the power to introduce exclusion zones around clinics. But we've already campaigned for this.

Just guessing here.

The police have powers to restrict "protest assemblies"
(Public Order Act 1986).
They can impose restrictions if they believe it is necessary to prevent a number of things, including intimidation.

It's pretty routine. Presumably, the Home Secretary thought that the clinics ought to be insisting that the police use their powers more often and regularly?

Exclusion zones (like you get at party conferences) require considerable police resources and disruption to the general public, because the threat level is high. They are mostly short-lived.

I can't get my head around the practicalities of a permanant buffer zone for a private clinic. How's it meant to work?

It's pretty straightforward really. The police and council have issued a map showing the zone in which protest is not permitted and IDing a small space specifically intended for the protesters. They stay there, more or less voluntarily. No police are required. The minute they stepped foot closer to the clinic, a member of clinic staff (or a local resident; they are not popular) would call the police, who would move them back. Since they can no longer tell who might be approaching the clinic, they are reduced to just handing out leaflets generally, and women using the clinic can approach from the east and never see them. Implementation nationally would not require extra police.

Before the PSPO the police were called repeatedly and repeatedly said they had no power to act. Women approaching the clinic had to run a gauntlet of protesters showing them graphic pictures, telling them they were killing their baby, calling them "mum". Sister Supporter began as groups of volunteers who would form a human barrier for the clinic's users.

Fuck the right to protest. Its only done to bully women and the people that work there. They know women are scared and fragile at this time and are taking advantage of that. That's not in spirit of protesting. Protest all you want in a safe environment away from people going into a hospital having a legal procedure.

Nobody’s talking about removing the right to protest, what an utterly ridiculous statement (much like most of the analogies given in support of said statement).

But stopping the graphic, intimidating and deliberately distressing haranguing of women seeking a private and personal medical procedure is not only the right thing to do, it’s crucially important that in all the shouting about the rights of the bullies protesters, the rights of the women seeking a termination are not lost.

Which they are currently.

If you want to stop abortion you've plenty of ways to act. Get up petitions, march, write to your MP and so on.

What the people outside abortion clinics are doing is akin to people who want to stop immigration placarding the homes of Somali families will. It's oppressive and wrong.

Dunno where that stray 'will' came from.