Women using abortion clinics are still being harassed despite MPs voting a year ago to create buffer zones to stop protesters intimidating them, medical and abortion groups say.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, has failed to “commence” the legislation to introduce buffer zones in England and Wales, even though parliament approved the move on 18 October last year.
The abortion services provider the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) accused Braverman of “complete silence” over her failure to implement the law.
Parliament agreed to set up “safe access zones”, banning anti-abortion protesters from certain activities within 150 metres of a clinic. This included reciting prayers, holding up placards, reading from the Bible or otherwise attempting to dissuade women from having terminations.
“The home secretary hasn’t done her job and as a result women remain at risk of harassment, intimidation, alarm and distress while they go to access legal healthcare from anti-abortion groups who continue to gather together outside abortion clinics, as do clinic staff,” said Rachael Clarke, BPAS’s chief of staff.
“This law was supported overwhelmingly, with a majority of MPs from all major parties agreeing. There is simply no justification for the complete silence from the home secretary.”
Dr Ranee Thakar, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “Safe access zones must be brought in now, to stop anti-choice organisations imposing stigma, guilt and shame on those accessing and providing abortion care services. This would not be tolerated for any other area of healthcare.”
BPAS said 15 abortion clinics, which between them help 45,000 women a year, had experienced protests outside in the five months since the Public Order Act – which includes the legislation on buffer zones – became law in May. Under it people found guilty of harassing or intimidating women accessing abortion services at clinics or hospitals, and staff who help them, could be fined or jailed.
In incidents the charity cited, a man staged a protest in the waiting room of one clinic; 30 activists stood outside a clinic for several hours, “causing anxiety and stress to women inside”; and protesters displayed graphic images of foetuses and verses from the Bible outside a hospital.
In other cases anti-abortion preachers wearing body cameras stood opposite clinics and held up posters saying “babies are murdered here”, BPAS said.
Buffer zones have been set up outside abortion clinics in Manchester, Birmingham, Bournemouth and London, but these have been created through councils using provisions in the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, rather than the Public Order Act.
Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “Buffer zones are an oppressive part of the current culture which force consent and silence dissent.”
The centre is backing a high court challenge by Christian Concern to the buffer zone approved by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council, which she called “disturbing”.
The Home Office condemned harassment of people visiting abortion clinics but did not disclose when it would finally introduce buffer zones.
A spokesperson said: “It is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel harassed or intimidated. The police and local authorities have powers to restrict harmful protests and we expect them to take action in such cases. The government will confirm timelines for the commencement of safe access zones in due course.”
