Supreme Court declines to hear appeal on abortion ‘buffer zone’

The Supreme Court has refused to hear a legal challenge against a ‘buffer zone’ outside a London abortion centre.

Ealing Council’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) criminalises peaceful protest, which includes prayer, outside an abortion business run by Marie Stopes. The Court of Appeal previously backed the Council’s plans.

Be Here For Me, which campaigns for the freedom to speak about abortion outside such centres, described it as “a very sad day for vulnerable women”

“a very sad day for vulnerable women”.

Support

Alina Dulgheriu began legal action against Ealing Council’s PSPS after benefitting from pro-life support outside an abortion facility.

She said she was “devastated” that the Supreme Court will not consider her appeal.

“My little girl is here today because of the practical and emotional support that I was offered outside a Marie Stopes centre, and I brought the appeal to ensure that other women did not have this vital support option removed.”

She is considering whether to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

’Sad day’

Be Here For Me spokeswoman Elizabeth Howard said: “In five years of the pro-life vigil’s work in Ealing, hundreds of women have accepted an offer of help and chose to keep their baby rather than have an abortion.”

“It is disgraceful that in both court judgments, there is literally not a single sentence, not a single word, dedicated to the women who have been helped by the vigil, who are grateful for the vigil, and who have given the other side of the story.

“The Supreme Court had an opportunity to rectify this deep miscarriage of justice, but has now declined to do so.”

She added: “This is a very sad day for vulnerable women.”

Proportionate

Abortion giant Marie Stopes has called for the Government to introduce ‘buffer zones’ nationwide.

This idea was rejected in 2018 by the then Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who said it would not be proportionate given that nearly all the pro-life activities simply involve “praying, displaying banners and handing out leaflets”.