Order banning protests outside U.K. abortion centers takes effect

A public order prohibiting protests outside abortion facilities throughout the United Kingdom went into effect on Thursday. The law establishing so-called buffer zones passed about 18 months ago, legally requiring protesters to stand over a football field’s length away from an abortion clinic during vigils.

Advocates have fought for years to establish safe access zones around abortion clinics, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service CEO Heidi Stewart said in a Thursday statement. This is a big win for women who for too long have been harassed and abused just for seeking necessary healthcare, she added. From now on, anyone who tries intimidation tactics outside abortion offices does so at their own risk, Stewart said.

But those who advocate for protections for the unborn disagreed. It's tragic that offering women an alternative to abortion is being criminalized, Right To Life UK spokeswoman Catherine Robinson said in a Wednesday statement. Hundreds of women have received practical support from pro-life volunteers outside abortion facilities that resulted in an alternative to abortion, she continued.

What’s the punishment for breaking the law? Those who violate the buffer zones could be subject to a maximum sentence equal to a Level 5, or unlimited, fine, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. The law included a list of non-violent activities not allowed in buffer zones, including, counseling someone on their intentions at the abortion facility; handing out pamphlets, holding Bibles, showing pictures of babies, and silent prayer vigils. However, the law noted that the activities listed would not necessarily be criminalized within a buffer zone and that prosecutors must consider all the facts and circumstances within the case. The UK branch of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian non-profit legal organization, said Thursday that a man convicted for praying outside of an abortion clinic is pursuing an appeal of his conviction.

Dig deeper: Read Maria Baer’s take on prayer outside abortion facilities in WORLD Opinions.