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MNHQ

Should MN support a BPAS call for non-protest 'buffer zones' outside abortion clinics? Tell MNHQ what you think

10 replies

RowanMumsnet · 20/11/2014 14:47

Hello all

We've been contacted by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, who want to know whether Mumsnet can support a call they're going to make for buffer zones around abortion clinics - and as ever we'd like to run it past MNers to see what you think.

Here's what BPAS say:

'Over recent years there has been an escalation in anti-abortion activity outside clinics in the UK. Women attending pregnancy advice and abortion centres are now regularly exposed to groups of anti-abortion activists standing directly outside. Many of these protesters bear large banners of dismembered foetuses, distribute leaflets containing misleading information about abortion, and follow and question women as they enter or leave the centres. Often, these people carry cameras strapped to their chests or positioned on a tripod. Women report feeling intimidated and distressed by this activity as they try to access a lawful healthcare service in confidence. Pregnant staff at clinics have on occasion needed escorting from the building by the police. Recently, NHS staff on premises where a clinic is located have felt so intimidated by the presence outside they have asked for the abortion service to be withdrawn. The closure of a service as a result of anti-abortion activity would be unprecedented.'

'We believe enough is enough.'

'One in three women will have an abortion in her lifetime. We are a society which values freedom of speech, but also one where the vast majority of us support a woman’s access to abortion services. The right to protest needs to be balanced with the right of pregnant women to obtain advice and treatment in confidence and free from intimidation. For those who wish to campaign to restrict women’s reproductive choices, there are plenty of opportunities and locations in which to do so. The space immediately outside a clinic need not and should not not be one of them.'

'Women should feel confident that they can approach centres for advice and services without fear of intimidation, or anxious that their identity will be compromised by protesters filming outside. Establishing access zones free from anti-abortion activists around clinics would provide the reassurance and security women need. We urge all political parties to act to protect women as they make their own personal decision about their pregnancy. Women deserve nothing less.'

We know MNers tend to feel fairly strongly about abortion and that there are views on both sides of this debate - so do please let us know what you think.

Thanks

MNHQ

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MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 21/11/2014 10:37

Morning all

Thanks very much - near unanimous!

We will see if we can get a response for you on the questions about precedent and how such a ruling might work.

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 24/11/2014 14:12

Hello

Thanks for your thoughts on this: it's clear that the great majority of posters think we should get behind this one, so we will do.

We asked BPAS about some of your questions around legal precedents, rights to protest and so on, and here is their response:

'We are thrilled with the response from MNers but quite understand some of the reservations. We’ve been there ourselves! The fact is that because this activity is quite unusual there is no legislation in place that covers the scope of it and allows the police to take action that will address the problem. So for example attempts to use the Public Order Act have failed because the activity does not appear to fit the criteria of the legislation. There is no legislation that stops activists filming people using healthcare services with or without their knowledge, even if it might be an offence to publish those images without consent – but that is of little reassurance to women who have to walk past cameras.'

'Harassment legislation requires making complaints to the police about individual events. Women considering abortion quite naturally do not want to do this and staff don’t feel comfortable about making themselves a target by doing so. The judge in the recent Northern Ireland anti-abortion harassment case described the case as 'no-holds barred' and run 'in a vicious and malicious fashion' – we cannot and would not expect staff to make themselves targets of activists with very extreme views (any more than they already are).'

'BPAS has no desire to restrict freedom of speech or the right to protest and has resisted calling for legislation to tackle this problem for several years. We have tried a number of routes to stop this activity – including contacting the churches which support these people and asking them to consider the impact it has on women - but all to no avail. We regularly debate people opposed to what we do, and have no desire to shut debate down – but we feel strongly that women coming for pregnancy advice and abortion care aren't coming to have a debate but to access a private medical service, and should be left alone.'

'The type of legislation we are proposing would apply very specifically to abortion clinics and pregnancy advisory bureaux. The Department of Health holds a list of these facilities. As with animal rights extremism legislation, this would be tightly drafted to deal with the behaviour of activists in these settings. This will ensure that it cannot be used to stop workers protesting outside a workplace or to curtail the right to protest in general. The point about this pushing the groups back but not entirely removing them is well made – buffer or 'access' zones will not solve the problem outright. But they would make it easier to provide a safe access route for women and staff and include provisions like stopping activists approaching women unsolicited and filming people immediately outside clinics.'

'We are very clear that if the result of this campaign is guidance that enables and empowers the police to use existing legislation then that would be welcome, but at present supportive police officers up and down the country tell us they do not have the powers to do solve this problem. They tend to advise civil injunctions, which is what Harrods has used successfully against fur protesters, but not only is this very expensive (not a problem if you are Harrods), it would have to be done on an individual basis from scratch for each clinic. We would do this if we thought it provided a proper solution. And we believe there is principle at stake: women should be able to access services in confidence and free from intimidation.'

'The police indicate that this type of domestic activism is most similar to animal-rights extremism (though at present fortunately without the threat of violence). Specific clauses were included in the Serious Organised Crime Act and Police Act 2005 in an attempt to regulate activity outside laboratories. In terms of what abortion related legislation might look like, this example from British Columbia provides a useful model (please see attached picture).'

'We hope this answers questions, and we're extremely happy to take more.'

Should MN support a BPAS call for non-protest 'buffer zones' outside abortion clinics? Tell MNHQ what you think
MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 28/11/2014 08:48

Morning all

BPAS are launching this campaign today, so here's what you can do:

visit the Back Off site and have a look at the campaign actions - there's a function there for contacting your MP; and

spread the word on social media: the hashtag is #backoff and you can find BPAS on Twitter @bpas1968.

We've given our support officially and we'll be sending some tweets from the @MumsnetTowers Twitter account.

Thanks
MNHQ

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 29/11/2014 13:12

Hello

Just to recap - MNHQ is supporting this one - the weight of opinion on the thread is obvs overwhelmingly in favour.

Here's what you can do:

visit the Back Off site and have a look at the campaign actions - there's a function there for contacting your MP; and

spread the word on social media: the hashtag is #backoff and you can find BPAS on Twitter @bpas1968.

We've given our support officially and we'll be sending some tweets from the @MumsnetTowers Twitter account.

Thanks
MNHQ

MNHQ

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 29/11/2014 21:15

AHEM

MNHQ

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 29/11/2014 21:47

oh look our talk guidelines

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 04/12/2014 11:44

Hello

We'll see if we can get an update for you from BPAS about how the campaign is going, but meanwhile we thought you might enjoy this video of a rather brilliant woman outlining why she personally thinks protestors outside clinics should #backoff

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 04/12/2014 14:17

And here's an update from BPAS:

'Hi everyone and many thanks for your support, which has been simply invaluable. We wanted to give you an update on where we are with the campaign.'

'Hundreds of people have now written to their MP and the responses which have been shared with us so far indicate there are DEFINITELY politicians who want to do something. If you haven't yet and would like to please do visit our campaign site when you can contact your MP back-off.org/get-involved/'

'We have written again to the Home Office. Sadly we didn't receive a reply to our first letter on this back in October, but we have written to the new Home Office minister with responsibility for women's safety, Lynne Featherstone – and we suggested she should read this very thread to get a sense of the strength of feeling on this! We've literally just this morning received a message from the Home Office to say they will be responding. We will let you know what they say.'

'We're also in touch with the office of the shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who is very concerned about the situation.'

'Just yesterday we were told by staff that a woman had been left traumatised after being confronted by 5 activists bearing graphic images as she got out of a taxi coming to one of our centres. She said the experience of being accosted by these people was far worse than the abortion itself and it left her scared to leave the clinic. This is exactly what we need to stop.'

'Thanks again – we will keep you posted'

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 09/12/2014 10:35

Hello

Just to recap (long thread!) - we are signed up and supporting.

Thought you might be interested to know that Yvette Cooper (Labour shadow Home Secretary) has given support too.

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 09/12/2014 12:27

And a fuller update from BPAS:

'Quick update: Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has now called on the government to consider introducing buffer zones, which is great news.'

'Yvette Cooper says: "Women need to be able to attend sensitive health care appointments – including abortion services – without facing intimidation and harassment. And health care workers need to be able to do their jobs without intimidation too. We don’t want the kind of harassment and abuse that we’ve seen in the US imported into Britain."'

'This has got a fair bit of media coverage - including this from Channel 4 news, which includes an interview with a woman who recently experienced protesters at a Marie Stopes clinic, and this from the Telegraph.'

'We're looking forward to the government's response.'

'Thanks again for all your support and let's keep up the pressure ?to protect women needing abortion care.'

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