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“Silent thought cannot be a crime” –
Army veteran confirms APPEAL

With our support, Adam Smith-Connor will pursue an appeal against his conviction for praying silently in a “buffer zone” as Crown Prosecution Service concede silent prayer is “not necessarily” an offence.

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Who is Adam Smith-Connor?

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, Adam Smith-Connor has since been charged and found guilty in a shock ruling from Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court.

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Adam Smith-Connor is an ordinary man. He’s a husband, a father, and a practicing physiotherapist providing for his family. But his courage is extraordinary. The British Army veteran and Christian is unafraid to defend his faith or share his pro-life views publicly.

Before Adam’s conversion to Christianity, he had paid for the abortion of his first son, Jacob, whom he conceived with an ex-girlfriend – a decision that he deeply regrets. He’s found forgiveness but knows firsthand the trauma of abortion and the loss of life it causes. That’s why he prays silently in public – about his own son, other unborn babies and their mothers, and fathers.

Bournemouth police fined Adam for praying silently about his deceased son in an abortion facility “buffer zone” on 24 November 2022. He prayed with his back to the facility to avoid any impression of approaching or engaging any women entering or leaving the facility, and yet was still questioned by police.

According to the rules of the censorship zone in which he was praying, if Adam were thinking about any other issue – the economy, immigration, or healthcare, for example – he wouldn’t have been fined. It was the nature of his thoughts, his silent prayer, that got him in legal trouble.

The UK has witnessed a modern-day ‘thought crime’ trial.

In August 2023, Bournemouth authorities criminally prosecuted Adam for this and although his trial was originally scheduled for last November, it was delayed for almost a year. This prolonged process has caused Adam and his family unwarranted hardship and emotional strain.

In October 2024, The Court sentenced Smith-Connor to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £9,000.

In its decision, the court reasoned that his prayer amounted to “disapproval of abortion” because at one point his head was seen slightly bowed and his hands were clasped.

With legal support from ADF UK, Adam Smith-Connor will pursue an appeal against his conviction for praying silently in a “buffer zone”.

Is Silent Prayer Banned in the UK now?

Former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in September 2023 that “silent prayer, within itself, is not unlawful” in a public letter to police forces nationwide and that “holding lawful opinions, even if those opinions may offend others, is not a criminal offence.” However, these prosecutions point to another reality.

Over a year later, the UK government have enforced “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England and Wales – banning “influencing” someone’s decision to access abortion services within 150m of the building.

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that silent prayer is not necessarily a criminal offence and that there must be evidence of overt activity. This is commonsense and consistent with the absolute right to freedom of thought protected under domestic and international law.

In Adam’s case, the defence contended that his prayerful thoughts and the fact that he held certain beliefs and opinions could not in themselves amount to a crime, particularly when he stood peacefully and silently on a public street.

He did not outwardly manifest his prayer by kneeling, speaking, or holding any signs. 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 facility and did not engage with any other person.

Adam was charged for breaking a local buffer zone imposed by local council authorities in Bournemouth. Within this buffer zone, everyone is prohibited from “expressing approval or disapproval of abortion” – even by praying, “crossing oneself”, or handing out leaflets about help services available to women facing a crisis pregnancy.

And sadly, we could be seeing far more of these incidents unfold.

The UK Parliament have rolled out Nationwide “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England & Wales as part of the Public Order Act 2023.

Under the national law, “influencing” someone’s decision to “access” abortion services within 150m of an abortion facility will become a crime.

The wording of the law is so vague that it could target pro-life volunteers for praying in their heads – even if they don’t say a word.

Western democracies like the UK increasingly consider abortion a healthcare “right” for women requiring a high degree of protection from those wishing to offer or support a pregnant woman and her baby.

However, BBC’s findings that almost 1 in 5 women who obtain abortions in the UK are pressured into doing so highlight the importance of women having the choice to hear all the options available.

An amendment to permit silent prayer and consensual conversations within censorship zones failed to pass by a vote of 116 to 299.

Sadly, in Scotland, Humza Yousaf reiterated that the government would support Gillian MacKay MSP’s bill to introduce the same censorial “buffer zones” as seen in England and Wales. In October 2023, a “buffer zones” bill was launched.

Some women want someone to turn to in their distress. Harassment is already banned and rare, but the banning of consensual and, oftentimes, lifesaving support threatens not just the debate on abortion but also the freedom to speak, think, and pray.

Alina Dulgheriu is just one UK woman who received care from a pro-life volunteer at a crucial time. Today, she has a thriving young daughter and is a pro-life advocate.

What’s at Stake and Why Does this Matter?

The issue is abortion today, but the issue of political debate could be different tomorrow. Adam’s case is evidence that if you hold opinions and convictions counter to the government or popular culture, you might be punished.

This is why protecting freedom of speech and thought is so important.

If the government can punish speech and thought it doesn’t agree with, then citizens become subjects of the state.

In a democratic society, this authoritarian approach to governance must be rejected because freedom of thought is an absolute right under domestic and international law. In Birmingham, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for praying silently in front of an abortion facility when it was closed. Now, all of her charges have been dropped without prosecution by West Midlands Police.

And Father Sean Gough also experienced the same measures enforced in a censorship zone when he held a “praying for freedom of speech” placard and sported an “Unborn Lives Matter” bumper sticker on his car while praying silently.

Thankfully, both were acquitted, and common sense prevailed.

We at ADF UK defend courageous people like Adam, Isabel, and Fr. Sean because we will always stand up for our guaranteed and

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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.