Isabel Vaughan-Spruce: United Kingdom

Challenging “thought-crimes”- Charity volunteer arrested for silent prayer

Topic | Freedom of Speech

Meet the charity worker arrested twice and charged on four counts for silent prayer “thought crime” near an abortion facility.

In a viral video in December 2022, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was seen being searched and arrested by three police officers after saying that she “might be” praying inside her head. The area surrounding the facility nearby which she prayed has been covered by a local Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), in force since November 2022, which prohibits prayer, distributing information about pregnancy help services, and other activities considered to constitute “protest”. She received a not guilty verdict on all four counts with support from ADF UK. Despite this she was arrested a second time, but the matter was later dropped by the police after she made legal representations.

With support from ADF UK, Isabel issued a claim against West Midlands Police for two wrongful arrests and false imprisonments; assault and battery in relation to an intrusive search of her person; and for a breach of her human rights both in respect to the arrests, and to the onerous bail conditions imposed on her. In August 2024, Isabel received a payout of £13,000 from West Midlands Police in acknowledgement of her unjust treatment, and the breach of her human rights.

“There is no place for Orwell’s ‘thought police’ in 21st Century Britain. Having been arrested, tried, and dragged through the legal system for months on account of my silent prayer – only to be found innocent and receive a payout for my unlawful arrest – it’s deeply concerning to see vaguely-worded legislation come in which could punish people like me who are just there to help, to talk peacefully, or to pray.”

- Isabel Vaughan-Spruce

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

More Information

Unblock content Accept required service and unblock content

Case Summary

In November 2022, Police approached Isabel Vaughan-Spruce standing near the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham. Isabel was not protesting. She wasn’t carrying a sign or engaging with anyone. She was completely silent, until approached by officers who had received complaints that she may be praying silently in her mind. 

Isabel, who has supported women in crisis pregnancies for over twenty years, was charged with “protesting and engaging in an act that is intimidating to service users,” despite the fact that the abortion facility was closed during the time in which she was present and praying, and despite her clear statement that she was not there to protest.  

Charged with “thoughtcrime” over content of silent prayer

While harassment is already illegal, the censorship zone measure introduced by Birmingham authorities criminalises individuals perceived to be “engaging in any act of approval or disapproval or attempted act of approval or disapproval” in relation to abortion, including through “verbal or written means, prayer or counselling…” Isabel’s physical presence in the public space protection order (PSPO) area wasn’t a crime in itself; it was the contents of her private thoughts that were prohibited. If Isabel had stood in the same place thinking about another topic, she would not have been arrested.

Isabel is the Director of the UK March for Life and has volunteered for many years in support of women in crisis pregnancies. She has tirelessly served her community by providing charitable assistance to vulnerable women and children, and yet, she is being treated no better than a violent criminal because of her private thoughts.

The prosecution was, however, not able to present any evidence before the court to substantiate the “thoughtcrime” and so the Birmingham Magistrates’ Court acquitted Isabel of all charges in February 2023.

Acquitted, then arrested again

But, only three weeks later, in March 2023, Isabel was again arrested for silently praying. Six police officers attended that arrest despite her “not guilty” verdict, with one confirming to her that “you’ve said you’re engaging in prayer, which is the offence”.

Bail conditions were then imposed on Isabel prohibiting her from attending an area within the vicinity of the abortion facility which extends beyond the censorial “buffer zone”. Supported by ADF UK, Isabel was able to challenge the unnecessary and disproportionate bail conditions, which were finally amended by the police.

In August 2024, after issuing a claim against West Midlands Police, Isabel received a payout of £13,000 in acknowledgement of her unjust treatment, and the breach of her human rights.

“Buffer zones” enforced despite threat to free speech

Isabel’s case exemplifies the dangers of “buffer zones.” Unfortunately, UK authorities have rolled out enforcement of “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England & Wales since 31st October 2024. Under UK law (Public Order Act), “influencing” someone’s decision to “access” abortion services is currently a crime within 150m of any abortion facility.

ADF UK continues its work to overturn this dangerous law.

“We all stand against harassment and intimidation. But the Public Order Act goes much further by banning “influencing”. Could this apply to the advice given by a parent? A concerned word from a friend? Information made available through a crisis pregnancy volunteer? The law is written so vaguely that peaceful, consensual conversations or even silent thoughts could be made illegal on certain streets of England. We have already seen the prosecution of individuals like Isabel Vaughan-Spruce or Adam Smith-Connor, who only stopped to pray in his mind for a few minutes, under these censorial and far-reaching “buffer zone” rules. 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,” says Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK.