Lib Dems move to end abortion clinic harassment

THE Liberal Democrats are marking International Women’s Day by introducing a Bill with cross party support today which would prohibit anti-abortion protests within 150 metres of abortion clinics.

The move from the Liberal Democrats comes as Texas-founded anti-abortion group “40 Days for Life” is holding a series of protests outside several British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) clinics, which provide pregnancy counselling, contraception, miscarriage management and abortion care.

BPAS previously called in 2018 for a ban on protests outside their Cardiff clinic.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds commented:

“Women across Wales should be able to access abortion clinics without being harassed or exposed to graphic images by anti-abortion protesters.

“I welcome Sarah Olney’s bill today which would be an important step towards protecting women visiting abortion clinics and all those who work there. I urge every Welsh MP to give this bill their full support.”

Ahead of her Bill’s reading, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney said:

“This form of protest is nothing more than bullying women when often they are at their most vulnerable. In no decent, caring society should the steps of an abortion clinic have become the place for debate.

“The current method of introducing ‘safe zones’ is not a long-term solution. It creates a postcode lottery while the costs for implementing and upholding them uses up precious local government resources.

Rachael Clarke, Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), added:

“BPAS runs abortion clinics around the country and thousands of the women we treat have been subjected to anti-abortion protests at the clinic gate. Since September 2018, 39 clinics and hospitals in England and Wales have been subjected to anti-abortion clinic protests.

“From people dressed as monks watching women enter clinics, to baby socks and clothes being left in bushes outside, to people following women down the street, to handing out false medical information about abortion, to standing outside with cameras and large, graphic pictures of foetuses, to calling women murderers. It has been this way since 2014 and there is no sign of them letting up.

“The current law is incomplete and ineffective – there is simply no way to stop the protesters we know cause trouble. That’s why we support Sarah Olney MP’s bill, and the work of all MPs who recognise that enough is enough when it comes to anti-abortion clinic protests – we need new legislation now.”