BIRMINGHAM (27 January 2026) – A Christian woman criminally charged because she “stood outside” an abortion facility in Birmingham and silently prayed will appear in court on Thursday.

Charity volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was criminally charged last December by West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for silently praying in a “buffer zone”, will appear in Birmingham Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing on Thursday 29 January at 10am.

She is expected to enter a plea of “not guilty” and to receive a trial date at the hearing. ADF International is supporting her legal defence.

This is the first time someone has been criminally charged under national “buffer zone” legislation, which came into force in October 2024, under Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023.  

The new national law prohibits “influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services” within 150m of abortion facilities, but does not mention silent prayer specifically.  

CPS guidance on the law stipulates that silent prayer on its own is not enough to meet the threshold of criminality unless it is accompanied by “overt” activity. 

All previous court cases regarding the status of silent prayer took place in the context of “buffer zones” enforced by local authorities via Public Spaces Protection Orders, rather than through this new law. 

This is the third time Ms Vaughan-Spruce has been criminally charged for silently praying.

She was cleared in court in February 2023 after her first arrest, and after being arrested a second time in March 2023, the police dropped their investigation.

In August 2024, Ms Vaughan-Spruce won a payout of £13,000 from West Midlands Police after she issued a claim for unlawful arrests and the breach of her human rights.

Thursday’s court hearing follows US Vice President JD Vance commenting on “buffer zone” censorship at the Washington DC March for Life 2026 on Friday.

Vice President Vance said: “It’s why we speak up when other nations throw pro-life and pro-family advocates in prison for silent prayer. Which we’ve seen way too much, but it’s got to stop.”

The US Administration has criticised “buffer zone” censorship in the UK on multiple occasions.

Ms Vaughan-Spruce commented: 

“Despite being fully vindicated multiple times after being wrongfully arrested for my thoughts, it’s unbelievable that I have yet again been charged for standing in that public area, and holding pro-life beliefs. Silent prayer – or holding pro-life beliefs – cannot possibly be a crime. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought.”  

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF International, said: 

“’Buffer zones’ are among the most concerning frontiers of censorship in the modern West. We all stand against harassment and abuse, but the ‘buffer zone’ law broadly bans ‘influence’ which is being interpreted by police officers to target innocent people who happen to stand in a certain place and believe a certain thing. We will continue to robustly challenge this unjust censorship, and support Isabel’s right to think and believe freely as is the right of every person in the UK.”  

Investigated for a “thoughtcrime” 

On 18 March 2025, West Midlands Police informed Ms Vaughan-Spruce she was under investigation for praying silently near the facility on 27 January 2025, as well as several other subsequent dates. 

Ms Vaughan-Spruce has been peacefully praying in the same public area on a regular basis for two decades. 

With legal support from ADF International, Ms Vaughan-Spruce sent numerous requests for clarification in proceeding months as to the status of her case, pointing out that the legislation does not function as a ban on her mere presence or on holding pro-life Christian beliefs.  

The Attorney General confirmed on 16 December 2025, in response to a parliamentary question from former Home Secretary Suella Braverman MP about Ms Vaughan-Spruce’s case, that: “The Crown Prosecution Service has issued proceedings under Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, in relation to one case, since it was commenced on 31 October 2024.” 

Ms Vaughan-Spruce had not yet received information about the charging decision when this written answer was issued by the Attorney General, but was informed hours later in a letter from West Midlands Police. 

The length of time taken for a charging decision, nearly one year, was highly unusual for a case like hers.

The charge read: “[Isabel] stood outside of the Robert Clinic [the abortion facility]… intending that, or being reckless as to whether, it had the effect of influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services at an abortion clinic.”

Repeated injustice over silent “thoughtcrime” 

In 2023, the charitable volunteer was acquitted in court after being arrested for praying in a local “buffer zone,” under a Public Spaces Protection Order that banned “expressions of approval or disapproval” of abortion. The incident occurred while the abortion facility was closed. The prosecution offered no evidence to support a conviction. 

Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing, Ms Vaughan-Spruce was arrested again for her silent thoughts in the same location weeks later in March 2023, opening an investigation that lasted several months. In August 2024, Ms Vaughan-Spruce successfully challenged her two unjust arrests and received a settlement from West Midlands Police of £13,000. 

On regular occasions, she has been approached by officers and asked if she is praying. Once, she was observed by two officers posted to watch her activities.