Arrested for offering a consensual conversation

On the day in question, 19 February 2025, Rose, who has always lived in Glasgow, made herself available for a conversation with anyone who wanted to engage within 200m of Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth II Hospital campus. 

A censorial “buffer zone” is enforced around the entire campus, preventing anyone from engaging in harassment or intimidation, or influencing someone’s decision to access abortion services.  

Rose, however, did not engage in any forbidden activities, but instead made herself available for anyone who wanted to speak – holding a sign reading: “coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.”   

Nevertheless, police showed up and arrested Rose, alleging that she had been in breach of the “buffer zone”. Watch the footage of the arrest here. 

The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 made “coercive control” illegal, recognising the profoundly harmful effects it can have on individuals and society. Over 6,640 charges related to this behaviour have been reported to the Crown Office between April 2019 and 2023. 14% of women have experienced coercion when it comes to abortion – about 1 in 7.     

Authorities issue a warning 

ADF International is supporting Rose, who after her arrest recieved a warning sent to her in a letter from the Procurator Fiscal, which requires her to accept her actions were unlawful. 

The letter from the Procurator Fiscal reads:  

“…the evidence is sufficient in law to justify my bringing you before the Court.  

“I have decided, however, in all the circumstances of the present case, not to bring proceedings.  

“You should note that if a similar report against you is submitted to me in future, and there is sufficient evidence in law to justify my bringing you before the Court, you may be prosecuted.  

“If you accept this warning or are deemed to have accepted it, I shall not prosecute you for the above offences.”  

The letter also explains that the warning issued to Rose would be disclosable on her record via the Scottish Criminal History System for two years. 

Rejecting the censorial warning 

Rose has informed the Procurator Fiscal that she will not be able to accept the terms of the warning, given that her actions did not amount to “harassment”, “intimidation” or “influence”, and rather are protected by her fundamental rights to speech.  

“I cannot pretend that what I did was unlawful – I merely offered a chat, particularly in the context of anyone experiencing coercion of any kind  – an issue firmly on my heart.   

“This is why I will be rejecting the warning I was issued by Scottish authorities, with support from ADF International. It isn’t right to deprive anyone of the right to take up my offer to talk – or to restrict me unfairly from carrying out this peaceful, compassionate action.”  

Reacting to the letter sent by the Procurator Fiscal, Lorcán Price, Irish barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International, said: “The warning issued by the Scottish authorities in effect demands Rose accept culpability for criminal behaviour. This Christian grandmother stood peacefully, alone, making herself available for a discussion with anyone who wished to speak to her. How can this possibly be outlawed in our society?” 

US State Department voices concern 

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor (DRL), a bureau within the United States Department of State, issued a statement on Rose’ arrest. 

DRL said: “Police in Scotland arrested a woman holding a sign offering to talk to people in a restricted ‘buffer zone.’ Freedom of expression needs to be protected.  We call on governments, whether in Scotland or around the world, to respect freedom of expression for all.” 

In his Munich Security Conference speech in April 2025, Vice President JD Vance called out Scotland’s draconian abortion facility “buffer zones”. 

In 2024, the Scottish government sent a letter to residents whose houses were in a “buffer zone”, saying: “Activities in a private place (such as a house) within the area between the protected premises and the boundary of a Zone could be an offence if they can be seen or heard within the Zone and are done intentionally or recklessly.” 

In an interview following Vice President Vance’s comments, Green Party MSP Gillian Mackay, who authored the Scottish “buffer zone” law, admitted that in her view prayer in a private home within a “buffer zone” could be a crime depending “on who’s passing by the window”.