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Army veteran and father of two, Adam Smith-Connor, charged with breaching censorial “buffer zone” by holding prayerful thoughts in his mind
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Verdict to be announced Wednesday 16th October, 10am, Poole Magistrates’ Court
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UK government to roll out “buffer zones” nationwide 31st October, criminalising “influence” near abortion facilities
DORSET (15th October 2024) – A man charged and tried for praying silently in an abortion “buffer zone” in Bournemouth will hear his verdict tomorrow at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court.
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council filed charges against Adam Smith-Connor, a military veteran and father of two, following an interrogation by office on “the nature of his prayers” when he stopped to pray for a few minutes near an abortion facility in November 2022.
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Smith-Connor was confronted by officers who asked, “what is the nature of your prayer?”, on a public green within a large “buffer zone” – an area covering several streets in the town – in which authorities have banned various expressions of pro-life or Christian belief, including through offering help to women in crisis pregnancies, or praying.
Read the full text of the Public Spaces Protection Order here.
Ahead of the verdict, Adam Smith-Connor stated:
“Nobody should be prosecuted for silent prayer. It is unfathomable that in an apparently free society, I am being criminally charged on the basis of my silent thoughts, in the privacy of my own mind. It’s not different than being tried for a thoughtcrime.
“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. I continue that spirit of service as a health care professional and church volunteer. It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thoughtcrimes are now being prosecuted in the UK.”
"I am being criminally charged on the basis of my silent thoughts, in the privacy of my own mind. It’s not different than being tried for a thoughtcrime."
Despite battling bankruptcy warnings and being forced to cut “all non-essential spending”, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council spent more than £90,000 on legal fees to prosecute the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of £1,000.
Commenting on the trial and the use of public funds, former MP Miriam Cates said:
“This isn’t 1984, but 2024 – nobody should be on trial for the mere thoughts they hold in their mind. It’s outrageous that the local council are pouring taxpayer funding into prosecuting a thoughtcrime, at a time where resources are stretched thin. Buffer zone regulation are disproportionately wide, leaving innocent people vulnerable to prosecution merely for offering help, or simply holding their own beliefs.”
Smith-Connor did not outwardly manifest his prayer by kneeling, speaking, or holding any signs to indicate his outer thoughts. He made every effort to be out of the line of sight of the abortion facility, positioned behind a tree with his back to the clinic and did not engage with any passersby.
Commenting on the trial, Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh MP said:
“It is disgraceful that in Britain in 2024 someone can be put on trial for praying silently in his head. Unfortunately we have seen repeated cases of free speech under threat in the UK when it comes to the expression of Christian beliefs. To offer a prayer silently in the depths of your heart cannot be an offence. The government must clarify urgently that freedom of thought is protected as a basic human right.”
A national roll-out of "buffer zones" - 31st October
Five councils across the UK currently have active “buffer zones” or censorship zones banning prayer and offers of charitable help to women on the public streets near abortion facilities.
The UK Parliament voted to roll out “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England & Wales as part of the Public Order Act 2023.
The Labour Government have announced plans to implement the zones on 31st October. Under the national law, “influencing” someone’s decision to “access” abortion services will become a crime.
Commenting on the upcoming enforcement of national buffer zones, Jeremiah Igunnubole said:
“We all influence each other’s decisions all the time – be it through the advice of a parent, the concern of a friend, or the information made available through a charitable volunteer. The ability to peacefully exchange views is the lifeblood of democratic society.
“Yet the Public Order Act is written so vaguely that these everyday, peaceful, caring conversations could be made illegal on certain streets of England when it comes to discussing abortion. The lack of clarity in the law could result in many more citizens like Adam being interrogated or even charged for simply directing silent thoughts towards God.
“The right to hold a consensual conversation, or engage in silent prayer, constitute the most basic of human rights. They are protected robustly by international legal provisions relating to freedom of thought and speech.
“This is a watershed moment for British freedoms, and one the public must not take lightly. A failure to protect thought and peaceful speech anywhere creates a threat to these rights everywhere. Buffer zones or otherwise, we should uncompromisingly safeguard the rights on which our democracy is based.”
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PICTURED (from left): Adam Smith-Connor praying outside Poole Magistrates’ Court; Adam Smith-Connor portrait; Adam with ADF UK legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole; Jeremiah Igunnubole portrait
