Ealing Council moves forward with plans to stop pro-life campaigners protesting outside west London abortion clinic

The introduction of what is believed to be the UK's first ever buffer zone to stop anti-abortion protesters from gathering outside an abortion clinic has come a step closer.

Ealing council unanimously voted to start a public consultation on introducing a public space protection order (PSPO) to stop such demonstrations outside a Marie Stopes clinic in the west London borough.

In calling for a safe zone, councillor Binda Rai told the meeting that the protests were forcing vulnerable women seeking a legal treatment to face "emotional hijacking at the point of access" which is clearly not covered by legislation.

Ms Rai, who represents the Walpole ward which includes the clinic, said: "The PSPO outside a Marie Stopes clinic is unprecedented nationally. We know that other councils are watching what we do."

The earliest that the eight-week public consultation could begin is January 29.

A council spokesman said a decision on whether or not to implement a PSPO will only be made once the consultation process has been completed and it is known whether or not the statutory criteria are met, including whether a PSPO will be a necessary and proportionate response to the issues that have been identified.

Reports of pregnant women being left so distressed by pro-life protesters that they have refused to leave abortion clinics even during a fire alarm were presented to MPs in December.

Women who attend clinics have been filmed or photographed, called “mum” and physically blocked by vocal anti-abortion campaigners in a bid to stop them from terminating a pregnancy.

In November, a YouGov survey found that the majority of MPs (57 per cent) supported the introduction of buffer zones.

Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told reporters: "The anti-abortion vigils held outside clinics are not legitimate protest, they are harrassment."