In its written submission to the Scottish consultation of buffer zones, SPUC slammed the proposed legislation as being “motivated by a desire to prohibit the public expression of opinions that supporters of the Bill find intolerable”. SPUC has provided a guide to help supporters respond to the ongoing consultation, which ends on 20 December, and encourages them to take action immediately to defend free speech and compassion.

Holyrood’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is currently gathering views on Gillian McKay MSP’s Bill to introduce buffer zones around abortion facilities in Scotland. The consultation can be found here.

SPUC, in its submission to the consultation, stated: “The supporters of this Bill have not shown that there is a problem of public disorder or criminal behaviour on the part of those targeted by the legislation. Nor have they shown that existing laws are incapable of addressing any incidents which may arise in the future. The proposed restrictions on human rights cannot be considered necessary nor proportionate under Articles 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the ECHR…

“While it is to be welcomed that the threat of imprisonment has been dropped, the use of law to punish people for holding the wrong political or religious opinions should have no place in Scottish society.”

If the Bill is passed, all pro-life activity, even peaceful prayer and loving interventions to help desperate mothers in need, would be banned within 200 meters of abortion facilities, with rule breakers being subject to fines of £10,000 or more. In Scotland, abortion providers would also be able to request an extension of the buffer zone.

In November, SPUC launched a petition urging First Minister Humza Yousaf to reject the Bill, referred to officially as the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill.

Previously, a QC said council buffer zones were unlawful in Scotland, though a Scottish Government spokesperson later stated that it would continue “to explore every avenue that is available” to censor pro-life activity around abortion facilities.

“Thoughtcrime” is fast becoming a chilling reality in the UK

Buffer zones in England and Wales were approved by MPs earlier this year, despite a Home Office review concluding in 2018 that “aggressive activities” by pro-lifers around abortion facilities were “not the norm”. Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary at the time, concluded that “introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response”.

Over the past year, several pro-life individuals have been arrested for praying silently outside abortion facilities in England, most notably Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested twice, as well as Adam Smith-Connor, an Afghanistan veteran, who still awaits trial for praying for his dead son within a buffer zone in Bournemouth.

Smith-Connor, speaking later, said: “Here I stand before you on the steps of Poole Magistrates Court being prosecuted – for a thoughtcrime… I did not approach anyone, I did not speak to anyone, I did not breach anyone’s privacy. I simply stood silently. I am being tried for the prayerful thoughts I held in my head.”

“Please ACT NOW to fight this Bill”

Alithea Williams, SPUC’s Public Policy Manager, said: “This consultation is very important because the Committee that commissioned it will decide whether this draconian and illiberal bill should be taken forward or not.

“We need as many people to respond to the consultation as possible. We need to make it clear to MSPs how unworkable (and unethical) it is to ban people from peacefully praying and offering help to women. To help you to do this, we have produced a guide, which gives suggestions about answering the questions.

“The consultation closes on 20th December. Please fill it in as soon as you can, and encourage others to do so. You can order paper copies of the guide by contacting orders@spuc.org.uk, or forward this email to friends and family.

“Please act now to fight this bill. The fact that the Scottish Government keeps running consultation exercises shows how worried they are about it. And they have good reason to be. In England, despite MPs voting for buffer zones over a year ago, the policy has still not been brought into force, and the Government are carrying out a consultation on how to police it – a very unusual move.”

Get SPUC’s Consultation Guide

Get SPUC's Consultation Guide for free by clicking here to visit our dedicated page

This guide is intended to help you respond to the consultation, and to give suggestions about answering the questions.