Abortion: Clinics

(asked on 8th November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on establishing buffer zones to protect people (a) accessing and (b) providing care at abortion clinics.


Answered by
Rachel Maclean Portrait
Rachel Maclean
This question was answered on 18th November 2021

The Government is clear that it is unacceptable that patients seeking healthcare advice or staff working in healthcare facilities should feel intimidated or harassed. This country has a proud history of allowing free speech, but the right to peaceful protest does not extend to harassment or intimidating behaviour and the law currently provides protection against such acts.

The Home Office takes the matter of protesters outside abortion clinics extremely seriously and recognises the adverse impact that anti-abortion protests can have on patients and staff. This is why the Home Office is keeping this important matter under review following the public call for evidence.

My officials regularly liaise with national policing leads to assess if there have been any developments on protest activities outside abortion clinics.

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