- Move comes weeks after first UK man convicted for silent prayer “thoughtcrime” in shock Bournemouth “buffer zone” ruling
- Almost 60,000 people sign open letter asking Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought
- ADF UK, supporting the legal defence of four individuals prosecuted for praying or offering help in a “buffer zone”, raise concerns about freedom of speech and thought
LONDON (29 October 2024) – UK authorities will enforce “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England & Wales from Thursday 31st October.
Under the national law, “influencing” someone’s decision to “access” abortion services will become a crime within 150m of any abortion facility.
"The law is written so vaguely that peaceful, consensual conversations, or even silent thoughts, could be made illegal on certain streets of England."
The vague wording of the law has drawn criticism from free speech advocates who fear it will be used to crack down on innocent, consensual conversation between adults – or even silent prayers.
Almost 60,000 people have signed a letter of concern to Keir Starmer, highlighting worrying prosecutions on account of silent prayers in local “buffer zones”, and asking that the government act to protect freedom of thought.
In anticipation of the new law, Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, said:
“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 Adam Smith-Connor, who only stopped to pray in his mind for a few minutes, under these censorial and far-reaching “buffer zone” rules.
“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. The entire premise of censorial buffer zone legislation is that women should be able to choose to access abortion without hindrance. The legal elephant in the room should be obvious to see. If the law states that a woman can choose to abort their unborn child without hindrance, even the “hindrance” of lawful alternatives to abortion, how can the law criminalise women when they choose to engage in lawful, harmless and consensual conversations?
“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.”
Policing Thought
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Reflecting on the new laws being enforced on October 31st, Vaughan-Spruce said:
“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. The government should urgently clarify that consensual conversations between adults – and silent thoughts and prayers – are protected in domestic and international law. This isn’t 1984 – we mustn’t police thought on the streets of Britain.”
Criminalising Help
Women who have benefited from the presence of pro-life volunteers standing near abortion facilities have formed a campaign group, “Be Here For Me”, asking for crisis pregnancy support groups to be protected from criminalisation in “buffer zones”.
"Removing the option to receive help to keep a child in case we feel offended is deeply patronising."
Alina Dulgheriu, who received help to continue her pregnancy after recieving a leaflet from a pro-life volunteer on the public street near an abortion facility, said:
“It is worrying that we will consider denying vulnerable woman access to potential 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 women 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.”
Convicted for a Prayer
The rollout of the new law, which was passed under the Conservative Government’s watch as part of the Public Order Act 2023, comes just weeks after the first man was convicted for a “thoughtcrime” inside a local buffer zone in modern British history.
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council charged Adam Smith-Connor, a military veteran and father of two, following an interrogation by officers on “the nature of his prayers” when he stopped to pray for a few minutes near an abortion facility in November 2022.
The Court sentenced Smith-Connor to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £9,000.
Despite battling bankruptcy warnings and being forced to cut “all non-essential spending”, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council spent more than £100,000 on legal fees to prosecute the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of £1,000.
Responding to the ruling, Smith-Connor stated:
“Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – can be illegal in the United Kingdom. That cannot be right. All I did was pray to God, in the privacy of my own mind – and yet I stand convicted as a criminal?
“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.”
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Pictured: Jeremiah Igunnubole; Isabel Vaughan-Spruce; Adam Smith-Connor; Alina Dulgheriu with her daughter
