Pro-abortion campaigners have called for the Government to introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics nationwide, after one was introduced in Manchester.
The city council introduced a buffer zone around the Marie Stopes clinic in Fallowfield earlier this month.
It prevents people from praying, handing out pro-life literature or speaking to anyone about abortion.
‘Peaceful, prayerful and legal’
Similar calls for the zones were rejected in 2018, with the then Home Secretary Sajid Javid concluding a proposed ban by the UK Government on buffer zones was not an appropriate response.
Robert Colquhoun, the International Director of pro-life group 40 Days for Life, said: “We organise peaceful, prayerful and legal vigils outside abortion clinics and have done in Manchester for 10 years.
“In that time we haven’t had a single substantiated case of harassment anywhere in the UK.”
Campaign
Eabha Doherty, a local pro-abortion activist, said that the local bans are “simply not good enough”.
She claimed: “Clinic harassment is, and continues to be, a huge national problem.”
Richard Bentley, Managing Director of Marie Stopes UK, joined Doherty in calling for “nationwide restrictions” on pro-life activity near abortion clinics.
Also see:
Abortion ‘buffer zone’ introduced in Manchester
Pro-life pensioners confronted by violent protester outside Manchester abortion clinic
Govt rejects national ‘buffer zones’ around abortion centres