Noted pro-life activist Isabel Vaughan-Spruce has been targeted again by police for her “mere presence” near an abortion facility was deemed potentially criminal.
Vaughan-Spruce recently received an apology from the police and £13,000 in compensation after two wrongful arrests for praying silently outside an abortion facility.
But new footage obtained by ADF UK has shown Vaughan-Spruce being confronted again by a West Midlands Police officer and told to leave a public area.
The video shows Vaughan-Spruce being told that her “mere presence” may be considered “harassment, alarm and distress” since she was inside a buffer zone of 150m around an abortion facility.
Vaughan-Spruce has since asked the police for clarification about why her “mere presence” may be a criminal offence.
In a statement published by ADF UK, Vaughan-Spruce said: “It has been made clear time and time again through the verdict of Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, through the concession and payout from the police, through the words of the former Home Secretary and through CPS Guidance – you cannot break the law by simply existing in a buffer zone, holding thoughts and beliefs in your mind.
“Every person has a right to stand in a public space and think what they want. The police officer told me that my ‘mere presence’ was offensive – that’s nothing short of viewpoint discrimination. He believes that just because I hold pro-life beliefs, I am automatically a criminal in certain public areas. This isn’t right.”
Afghanistan veteran Adam Smith-Connor, who was found “guilty” of praying silently for his dead son outside an abortion facility in Bournemouth, is set to have an appeal in July, with support from ADF UK.
“Surely a silent thought cannot be a crime”, said Smith-Connor. “I served for 20 years in the army reserves, including a tour in Afghanistan, to protect the fundamental freedoms that this country is built upon…
“It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thoughtcrimes are now being prosecuted in the UK.”
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance issued last year states that silent prayer is ‘not necessarily’ criminal, though actions inside buffer zones that ‘influence’ a woman in the context of abortion are.
SPUC warns about UK “slide into illiberalism”
Daniel Frampton, SPUC’s Editorial Officer, said: “The outrageous targeting of pro-life Christians continues in the UK, and silent prayer is still considered ‘harassment’ by some police forces. While it may not be illegal to pray, these arrests of Christians are deeply concerning. Freedom of religious expression must be upheld.
“Such persecution arises from the broader campaign to silence all forms of peaceful pro-life activity, which has been libelled as ‘harassment’ despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, including a Home Office review.
“Something is profoundly wrong when peaceful citizens are being persecuted for the alleged crime of merely existing in a public space. All people should be concerned by this, irrespective of their views on abortion, since there is no knowing where this slide into illiberalism will end.”
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