MPs call on Home Office to allow consensual conversation and silent prayer in “buffer zones” after woman charged for “offering to talk”  

  • Five cross-party politicians, Sir Edward Leigh, Andrew Lewer, Carla Lockhart, Andrew Bridgen, and Lord Jackson, call out censorship of retired medical scientist 
  • MPs highlight “double standards” when it comes to free speech in the UK 
  • Dr Livia Tossici-Bolt will face trial for peacefully holding a sign within an abortion “buffer zone”; ADF UK is supporting her legal defence 

LONDON (28th March 2024) – MPs have called on the Home Office to protect consensual conversation and silent prayer in “buffer zones” after a woman was charged for holding a sign. 

Four MPs and one peer also said the crackdown on what one MP called the “entirely benign behaviour” of Dr Livia Tossici-Bolt, 62, a Christian woman and retired medical scientist, showed a double standard in law enforcement.  

Dr Tossici-Bolt, whose legal defence is being supported by ADF UK, is facing trial for holding a sign that read: “Here to talk, if you want,” in a “buffer zone” around an abortion facility in Bournemouth.  

Reacting to Dr Tossici-Bolt’s case, senior Tory MP and former minister Sir Edward Leigh said: 

 “Freedom of thought and freedom of speech are the bedrock of a free society.  

“It’s mad that a retiree is facing trial for inviting people to have a harmless chat. No one should be turned into a criminal just for peacefully offering to talk to people in a public space. 

“All our warnings about the effect buffer zones would have on free speech have come true. We’ve seen a woman arrested twice for thinking and a Catholic priest charged and prosecuted. Both won in the courts but only after a long and needless legal battle that will have a chilling effect on free speech.” 

"It’s mad that a retiree is facing trial for inviting people to have a harmless chat. No one should be turned into a criminal just for peacefully offering to talk to people in a public space."

- Sir Edward Leigh, MP

Under a public spaces protection order (PSPO), a censorial buffer zone was put in place by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council around an abortion facility.  

The PSPO prohibits specific named activities, such as “engaging in an act of approval/disapproval or attempted act of approval/disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services”, including through “prayer” and “counselling”.  

A double standard on free speech 

Politicians have also called out double standards in the authorities’ approach to free speech and thought.  

Democratic Unionist Party MP Carla Lockhart commented: 

“Our law enforcement, who already have limited resources, must focus on real crimes instead of entirely benign behaviour, as in this case.  

 “One cannot help but notice an alarming double standard—very objectionable views are often allowed at pro-Palestinian protests in the name of freedom of speech and expression, but the same right is not extended to this Christian woman who did not even offer an opinion, but merely invited a conversation.  

“Why does one rule apply to those protestors, and another to Livia?” 

Conservative peer Lord Jackson said:  

“It’s astonishing that people of faith offering silent prayers on a matter of conscience are stigmatised, harassed and criminalised whilst those screaming for jihad on hate marches are allowed to spread their poison with impunity.  

“An obvious example of dual policing. All under a Conservative Government. Disgraceful and embarrassing.” 

Independent MP Andrew Bridgen said:  

“There should not be double standards when it comes to free speech. Yet, repeatedly, we see evidence that Christian expression is harshly censored, while the right to voice more fashionable views is protected.” 

PSPOs have been widely criticised by free speech campaigners, as well as politicians, for their censorious effects on free speech, thought, and religious liberty. Defenders of “buffer zones” often say they are intended to prevent harassment—but harassment is already a crime, making the existence of “buffer zones” unnecessary and malign.  

“Buffer zones” are to be rolled out around abortion centres across the country as part of the Public Order Act 2023. Draft Home Office guidance clarified that silent prayer and consensual conversation would be protected in “buffer zones”, but two MPs—one Conservative and one Labour—have pushed for even these to be censored. 

Home Office guidance must uphold free speech 

The final Home Office guidance on “buffer zones” is expected soon, and MPs have said Dr Tossici-Bolt’s case shows the importance of the guidance protecting these basic freedoms.  

Sir Edward said: “Livia’s case shows how important it is for the draft guidance on the Public Order Bill to protect consensual conversations and silent prayer in ‘buffer zones’.  

“The Home Secretary must ensure these common sense protections are kept or we’ll see more people like Livia unjustly turned into criminals by bad law.” 

Conservative MP Andrew Lewer said: 

“Cases like Livia’s highlight the threat to free expression and belief inherent in censorial ‘buffer zones’. Christianity is not criminal. Neither offering charitable help, engaging in consensual conversation, nor praying silently, should ever be illegal in the UK.  

“The Home Office guidance on buffer zones should at least protect these in order to uphold international standards on freedom of speech and of thought. 

 “While police crack down on these peaceful activities, they expose a double standard where protesters on different ideological issues are allowed much wider scope to express their beliefs.” 

Bridgen said: 

“Livia should not be criminalised for offering to talk. Her case demonstrates that final Home Office guidance on the Public Order Bill must protect consensual conversation, along with silent prayer, in buffer zones.”  

"Neither offering charitable help, engaging in consensual conversation, nor praying silently, should ever be illegal in the UK. The Home Office guidance on buffer zones should at least protect these in order to uphold international standards on freedom of speech and of thought."

- Andrew Lewer MP

A free vote? 

Bridgen added that the vote for “buffer zones” in the Public Order Act should have never passed in the first place, as since it was concerned with public order and free speech, it should have been whipped.  

He questioned what role the Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt played in that vote not being whipped, and criticised her vote in favour of “buffer zones”. 

“In fact, as a matter of public order and civil liberties, the vote on enforcing buffer zones across the country should have been whipped in favour of free speech. Why was this not the case?,” Bridgen said.  

He added: “As Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt works closely with the Chief Whip. She was in this role at the time of the buffer zone vote. She voted for censorious buffer zones and must answer the question of what role she played in that vote being a free vote. 

“The public deserves to know the answer to this, especially in light of discussion about her possibly being the next Tory leader.  

“No potential leader of the Conservative Party should support viewpoint censorship.” 

UK has always valued free speech 

Lockhart commented:  

“Livia’s case underlines the urgent need for the Home Secretary’s guidance on buffer zones to safeguard consensual conversations.  

“It must also safeguard silent prayer—other cases, such as that of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce who was arrested, interrogated, charged, and prosecuted before eventually being vindicated for her thoughts, show the dystopian consequences of criminalising this. 

“No one should want to live in a society where the state has the power to say what you can or can’t think, or what peaceful interactions you can or can’t have with others.   

She added: 

 “The UK has always been a country that values freedom to hold, express and discuss a wide range of opinions and deeply held beliefs. We need to ensure those freedoms are not restricted by postcode, and not policed out of the public sphere by prejudiced policing.” 

A censorious trend 

Dr Tossici-Bolt’s case is the latest of several, which show the censorious and dystopian effects of “buffer zones”.  

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested twice for silently praying in a buffer zone, a Catholic priest, Father Sean Gough, was charged for the same act, and Adam Smith-Connor is also facing trial for silent prayer.  

Vaughan-Spruce and Father Sean, whose cases were supported by ADF UK, were vindicated through the courts and all charges against them have been dropped. Smith-Connor’s case is ongoing, and his trial will be in September. His case is also supported by ADF UK. 

“Under vaguely-written local “buffer zone” measures, we have seen volunteers like Livia criminalised simply for offering help to women in need; and others dragged through courts for praying, even silently, in their minds.   

“The principle of freedom of thought and speech must be defended both within and outside ‘buffer zones’. The Home Office have sought to keep our country in line with international law by protecting freedom of thought and of consensual conversation in the draft buffer zone guidance. It is vital, for the preservation of democracy, that this stands,” commented Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK. 

.

Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only

Pictured: Jeremiah Igunnubole (ADF UK); Livia Tossici-Bolt

VIDEO: Scottish buffer zones bill is “patronising” and unhelpful, woman who recieved help from pro-life volunteers tells parliament 

  •  Alina Dulgheriu, who accepted an offer of support to continue her pregnancy from a pro-life volunteer near an abortion facility, asks Scottish parliament to protect the right to offer help to women in crisis 
  • Scottish proposal would ban prayer and pro-life speech even inside houses within 150m or more of abortion facilities 

EDINBURGH (12 March 2024) – Alina Dulgheriu, a mother who recieved help at her point of critical need outside an abortion facility, has asked the Scottish government to consider vulnerable women before censoring pro-life help in Scotland. 

Dulgheriu credits pro-life volunteers with empowering her to make her wanted choice to continue her pregnancy despite financial and social pressures placed on her to abort. 

She has since established the “Be Here For Me” campaign, collecting testimonies of other women who have been positively impacted by the presence and services offered by charitable pro-life volunteers. Dulghieriu called on the Scottish government to allow volunteers to continue the work that she views as “much needed” in order to support vulnerable women. 

“I didn’t want an abortion but I was abandoned by my partner, my friends and society. My financial situation at the time would have made raising a child very challenging. Thanks to the help I was offered by a group outside of a clinic before my appointment, my daughter is here today. Stopping people from offering much-needed services and resources for women in my situation is wrong. Let them help,” Alina Dulgheriu, spokesperson for Be Here For Me, commented on the implementation of censorial “buffer zones”. 

"Removing the option to receive help to keep a child...is deeply patronising and assumes that women can't make a decision for ourselves, or that we might choose the wrong option."

- Alina Dulgheriu, spokesperson for Be Here for Me, a group of mothers campaigning against buffer zone censorship

Addressing parliamentarians on the Health, Social Care and Sport committee, Dulgheriu explained that the buffer zones bill would be “deeply patronising” to women by denying them an opportunity to hear and consider options to continue their pregnancy with charitable support.  

“It is worrying that we will consider denying vulnerable woman access to potential life-changing, life changing information – especially when facing one of the most challenging decision of their lives that could have lasting ramification on their mental and physical health.  

Removing the option to receive help to keep a child in case we feel offended is deeply patronising and assumes that woman can’t make a decision for ourselves or that we might choose the wrong option.

My case is not a one-off. There are many hundreds of women just like me who have benefitted from this support. Yet we are all too often ignored.” 

In a Q&A with Members of the Scottish Parliament, Dulgheriu went on to explain that the help she had recieved from pro-life volunteers had not been offered by the abortion provider whom she had asked about her options.

Promote “tolerance, not censorship”, asks woman arrested for silent prayer 

The charitable volunteer who was arrested for praying silently in a controversial “buffer zones” case in Birmingham will also testified to Holyrood about her experience of being prosecuted for a “thoughtcrime”. 

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was seen being arrested on a viral video last winter when she said she “might be praying inside [her] head”. She was charged with “engaging in an act that is intimidating to service users” within the buffer zone of an abortion clinic – despite the clinic having been closed.   

She was later fully acquitted at Birmingham Magistrates Court after the prosecution could offer no evidence as to her thoughts. 

Addressing the parliamentarians, Vaughan-Spruce said:

“After having to clear my name in court I was rearrested two weeks later being told ‘my prayers were an offence’. I’m concerned that this will end up happening in Scotland. Nobody should be punished for a “thoughtcrime” – yet this proposed legislation could easily allow that to happen.

The buffer zone has created a huge amount of division in our area, and many locals tell me that they are now fearful to share their beliefs with their neighbours. The community has become polarised and the buffer zone has fostered intolerance. 

“I wholly recommend that the Scottish government protect freedom of thought and of speech in Scotland, and promote tolerance rather than censorship.”

"I wholly recommend that the Scottish government protect freedom of thought and of speech in Scotland, and promote tolerance rather than censorship."

- Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was criminally charged for breaking a "buffer zone" regulation after she prayed silently in her mind near an abortion facility in Birmingham. Isabel was tried and found innocent. ADF UK supported her legal defence.

The bill has recieved criticism from free speech advocates, who raise concern that the vague and ambiguous language of the text could crack down on peaceful conversation and even thought. 

“Scotland’s buffer zone bill is one of the most extensive crackdowns on pro-life thought and speech we’ve seen. As drafted, it could even ban prayer and peaceful pro-life speech within homes if they are situated sufficiently near an abortion facility. The proposal would also allow the 150m distance of the buffer zone to be expanded by local authorities to an unlimited extent. It is vital that the parliament take heed of the stories of Alina and Isabel, and uphold their duty to protect freedom of thought, offers of help, and consensual conversation,” said Lois McLatchie Miller, spokesperson for ADF UK in Scotland. 

Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only

PICTURED: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce; Alina Dulgeheriu; Lois McLatchie Miller, ADF UK

Vindicated charity volunteer arrested for silent prayer in an abortion “buffer zone” testifies to Scottish Parliament 

  •  Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for praying silently in a viral video, asks Scottish parliament to protect freedom of thought in “buffer zones” bill 
  • Scottish proposal could ban prayer and pro-life conversations even inside houses within 150m or more of abortion facilities
  • Mother helped by pro-life volunteers also to testify to parliament against censorial “buffer zones” today

EDINBURGH (12 March 2024) – The charitable volunteer who was arrested for praying silently in a controversial “buffer zones” case in Birmingham will today testify to Holyrood about her experience of being prosecuted for a “thoughtcrime”. 

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was seen being arrested on a viral video last winter when she said she “might be praying inside [her] head”. She was charged with “engaging in an act that is intimidating to service users” within the buffer zone of an abortion clinic – despite the clinic having been closed.   

She was later fully acquitted at Birmingham Magistrates Court after the prosecution could offer no evidence as to her thoughts. 

YouTube

By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more

Load video

"After having to clear my name in court, I was rearrested two weeks later being told ‘my prayers were an offence’.. I’m concerned that this will end up happening in Scotland. Nobody should be punished for a “thoughtcrime” - yet this proposed legislation could easily allow that to happen."

- Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, whose legal defence was supported by ADF UK

Vaughan-Spruce is expected to address the parliamentary Committee on Health, Social Care and Sports with the following remarks: 

“Since the implementation of the buffer zone in Birmingham, I have been arrested simply for standing silently near the closed abortion centre – the justification being that this was intimidating service users (I remind you it was closed, there were no service users). After having to clear my name in court I was rearrested two weeks later being told ‘my prayers were an offence’. I’m concerned that this will end up happening in Scotland. Nobody should be punished for a “thoughtcrime” – yet this proposed legislation could easily allow that to happen. 

We are all against harassment. We already have laws to prohibit that and all pro-life leaders would willingly work with any authority to condemn harassment.  

 But buffer zones go much further than only banning harassment – and instead criminalise helpful charity work or even prayer. The buffer zone has created a huge amount of division in our area, and many locals tell me that they are now fearful to share their beliefs with their neighbours. The community has become polarised and the buffer zone has fostered intolerance. I wholly recommend that the Scottish government protect freedom of thought and of speech in Scotland, and promote tolerance rather than censorship.” 

The architect of the “buffer zones” bill, Gillian McKay MSP of the Green Party, will also be a member of the parliamentary committee scrutinizing the bill and hearing testimonies from those impacted by it.  

The bill has recieved criticism from free speech advocates, who raise concern that the vague and ambiguous language of the text could crack down on peaceful conversation and even thought.

“Scotland’s buffer zone bill is one of the most extensive crackdowns on pro-life thought and speech we’ve seen. As drafted, it could even ban prayer and peaceful pro-life speech within homes if they are situated sufficiently near an abortion facility. The proposal would also allow the 150m distance of the buffer zone to be expanded by local authorities to an unlimited extent. It is vital that the parliament take heed of the stories of Alina and Isabel, and uphold their duty to protect freedom of thought, offers of help, and consensual conversation,” said Lois McLatchie Miller, spokesperson for ADF UK in Scotland.

Mother helped by pro-life volunteers also to testify against censorial “buffer zones”

Also giving testimony to the committee today is Alina Dulgheriu, a mother who recieved help at her point of critical need outside an abortion facility in Ealing, London. 

Dulgheriu credits pro-life volunteers with empowering her to make her wanted choice to continue her pregnancy despite financial and social pressures placed on her to abort. 

Hear Alina’s story >>

 

YouTube

By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more

Load video

Dulgheriu has since established the “Be Here For Me” campaign, collecting testimonies of other women who have been positively impacted by the presence and services offered by charitable pro-life volunteers. Dulghieriu will call on the Scottish government to allow volunteers to continue the work that she views as “life-saving”. 

“I didn’t want an abortion but I was abandoned by my partner, my friends and society. My financial situation at the time would have made raising a child very challenging. Thanks to the help I was offered by a group outside of a clinic before my appointment, my daughter is here today. Stopping people from offering much-needed services and resources for women in my situation is wrong. Let them help,” Alina Dulgheriu, spokesperson for Be Here For Me, commented on the implementation of censorial “buffer zones”. 

"Thanks to the help I was offered by a group outside of a clinic before my appointment, my daughter is here today. Stopping people from offering much-needed services and resources for women in my situation is wrong. Let them help."

- Alina Dulgheriu, who benefitted from help offered by pro-life volunteers, will also testify to the parliament today

Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only

Pictured: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce; Alina Dulgheriu

Dorset Pensioner on trial for offering to talk to women in crisis pregnancies 

  • Livia Tossici-Bolt held a sign reading “Here to talk, if you want to” near an abortion facility in Bournemouth
  • Local authorities have charged the retired scientist for breaching a censorial “buffer zone”; ADF UK supports her legal defence 

BOURNEMOUTH (10 March 2024) – A retired medical scientist from Bournemouth is facing trial following charges relating to her charitable work supporting women in crisis pregnancies. 

 

Livia Tossici-Bolt, 62, held a sign reading “here to talk, if you want to” near an abortion facility in Bournemouth. While she held the sign, several individuals did approach Tossici-Bolt to discuss issues they were facing in their lives. 

 

Local authorities confronted Tossici-Bolt, alleging that she had breached a local abortion “buffer zone”, which bans expression of approval or disapproval of abortion. They issued a Fixed Penalty Notice, which Tossici-Bolt refused to pay, on the grounds that she did not breach the terms of the PSPO, and had the right, protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, to offer consensual conversations.

 

The Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council have proceeded to charge the volunteer, who awaits a trial date at Poole Magistates’ Court. Her legal defence is supported by ADF UK. 

"There’s nothing wrong with offering help. There’s nothing wrong with two adults engaging in a consensual conversation on the street. I shouldn’t be treated like a criminal just for this."

- Livia Tossici-Bolt, whose legal defence is being supported by ADF UK

“We all condemn harassment. But “buffer zones” are going so far even to criminalise activities which are peaceful and helpful. For several years now, I have been offering a helping hand to women who would like to consider other options to abortion, and pointing them to options where they can receive financial and practical support, if that’s what they would like. There’s nothing wrong with offering help. There’s nothing wrong with two adults engaging in a consensual conversation on the street. I shouldn’t be treated like a criminal just for this,” said Livia Tossici-Bolt, whose legal defence is being supported by ADF UK.

Government deliberate on free speech

In 2023, the UK government passed legislation in the Public Order Act to enforce censorial buffer zones around all abortion facilities, banning any form of “influence”.  

 

The Home Office have issued draft guidance to clarify that the right of women to engage in consensual conversations of their own free will remains protected, as does the freedom to pray inside one’s own mind. Two MPs have approached the Home Office demanding that the guidance be changed to cease protecting both of these rights. 

“Under vaguely-written local “buffer zone” measures, we have seen volunteers like Livia criminalised simply for offering help to women in need; and others dragged through courts for praying, even silently, in their minds.  

 

The principle of freedom of thought and speech must be defended both within and outside ‘buffer zones’. The Home Office have sought to keep our country in line with international law by protecting freedom of thought and of consensual conversation in the draft buffer zone guidance. It is vital, for the preservation of democracy, that this stands,” commented Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, who are supporting Tossici-Bolt’s legal defence.  

 

 

Livia Tossici-Bolt with Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for ADF UK, the organisation supporting her legal defence

A second attempt to charge the pensioner for carrying out charitable work

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council have recently apologised for causing Livia Tossici-Bolt to feel “distressed and harassed” when officers wrongfully attempted to move her from a public street on another occasion. 

 

Tossici-Bolt was standing alone and holding a sign reading “Pregnant? Need help?” with a helpline number for women in crisis pregnancies. 

 

In a moment captured on video, officers confronted Tossici-Bolt, accusing her of standing inside Bournemouth’s censorial “buffer zone”, which criminalises “expressions of approval or disapproval of abortion”.  

YouTube

By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more

Load video

The authorities have since acknowledged that she was not within the censored “buffer zone” on this occasion but claim the map she brought with her to indicate her position was “confusing”. The map, in fact, was a replica of the map found on the council’s own website. 

 

“Livia was interrogated for praying and offering charitable help even outside of a buffer zone on one occasion – exposing the reality of the slippery slope of censorship. If the state is allowed to criminalise the mere holding of prolife viewpoints within certain public spaces, on what basis can we object to criminalisation in all public spaces?  

 

The purported blanket bans on prayer and consensual conversations were never about the prevention of harassment and intimidation – after all, in the UK, not a single pro-life vigil volunteer has been convicted for harassment and intimidation in over 40 years of prolife presence near abortion facilities,” said Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK.

Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only