Anti-abortion supporters 'illegally' protest outside clinic on day buffer zone law comes into force

Anti-abortion supporters were allegedly protesting illegally outside a Glasgow hospital this afternoon on the day the new buffer zone laws came into force in Scotland.

As of today, Tuesday September 24, safe access zones were established around 30 health facilities across Scotland, stopping anti-abortion protesters from gathering within 200 metres of such clinics. The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill, designed to protect women from harassment, was passed in June.

The move comes just over three months after the Scottish Parliament overwhelmingly passed the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act, with only one MSP voting against it.

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Police Scotland will now enforce the legislation, with those breaking the law facing the possibility of an unlimited fine for the most serious breaches.

On day one of the new law, two pro-life campaigners were pictured praying near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital at around 2pm. The women, one holding rosary beads and the other a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, were approached by police officers as they appeared to be within 200 metres of the maternity unit. It is unknown if they were fined for breaching the news laws.

Meanwhile, around 30 anti-abortion supporters from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) were also videoed standing outside the Scottish Parliament's headquarters in Edinburgh.

The group waved posters which read: 'crime: influencing someone on abortion', 'crime: praying about abortion' and crime: offering help to pregnant women'.

Several wore red boiler suits and held onto rosary beads as they attempted to hit out at the new laws.

Speaking as the legislation came into force Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who led the push for the legislation, said: "This is a crucial day for reproductive rights and healthcare in Scotland. I hope that it will be the end of the intimidation and harassment we have seen of people who are accessing healthcare.

"Right from the first moment I saw footage of the protests, I could see how much damage they were doing and how many people were being impacted by them. I knew that I had to do everything I could to stop them.

"Over the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with the Scottish Government to ensure that patients and staff know where protesters can and can't be so that they can report any activity that is against the law."

Ms Mackay also praised campaigners like Back Off Scotland and thanked the women who had shared their "often difficult and traumatic stories" of facing protests outside clinics. She said: "I hope that this is a turning point and the beginning of the end of the protests, and that nobody else will have to endure them."

She said of the latest protest: ""These protests are not just wrong, they are also illegal.

"I ask every protester to think about what they are doing and the impact they are having. There is no shortage of testimonies from people who have felt intimidated, harassed and targeted by these so-called vigils.

"My team are ready to work with the police and others to ensure safe access to services and ensure that people know where they are and are not allowed to protest.

"It has been a long journey to get to this point, but the huge response we got to the consultation, and the consensus we saw across all parties, makes clear the urgent need for an end to these protests."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.20pm on Tuesday, 24 September 2024, we were made aware of a small group of protestors within the grounds of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow.

“Officers attended, advice was given and the group left.”

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