SPUC has stated that it is evident that Police Scotland and the majority of Scottish NHS boards deem legislation to introduce buffer zones “unnecessary” after the bodies ignored the public consultation, failing to submit responses.

Grace Browne, SPUC’s Communications Manager said: “If Police Scotland recognised a great need for new legislation regarding pro-life vigils outside abortion facilities, one would assume they would have participated in the consultation – providing any evidence they have access to. They did not.”

A series of Freedom of Information requests have revealed that Police Scotland and the majority of Scottish NHS boards did not submit responses to the recent government consultation on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill. The Bill would put in place ‘Safe Access Zones’ at facilities where abortions are performed, making it a criminal offence to participate in pro-life vigils at those locations.

The Bill would introduce new criminal charges and would grant certain powers to the police – and yet, Police Scotland opted not to submit a response to this consultation, which closed on 11 August.

The response from Police Scotland to the FOI request reads:

“Police Scotland has made no response to the Proposed Safe Access (Abortion Services) Scotland Bill Consultation. Police Scotland is aware of the consultation but has not responded to it.”

Further FOI requests revealed that at least 9 of the 14 Scottish NHS boards also did not respond to the consultation, including NHS boards in areas where pro-life vigils take place, like Glasgow.

Buffer zone legislation is disproportionate

SPUC’s Miss Browne said: “The fact that Police Scotland and most NHS boards did not participate in the consultation is telling. Existing laws give police the power to intervene in cases of intimidation and harassment. If the police are not intervening with pro-life vigils, it is because the threshold for intimidation and harassment is not being met. Therefore, legislation introducing so-called ‘safe access zones’ would be disproportionate.

“Pro-life vigils are peaceful, prayerful events, witnessing to women that there is an alternative to abortion. There is no evidence that putting in place ‘safe access zones’ is a proportionate response. Additionally, to do so would infringe on the rights to freedom of speech and assembly of vigil goers. 

“SPUC hopes that legislators will recognise this and scrap the proposed Safe Access (Abortion Services) Scotland Bill.”