City bid to ban anti-abortion protesters from outside clinic
Group makes life a misery for locals
NEIGHBOURS of a Birmingham abortion clinic say years of protests in their street have left them “miserable and helpless”.
Complaints have been rising over ‘pro-life’ campaigners handing out graphic leaflets, chanting and blocking access to women using the Robert Clinic in Kings Norton.
Birmingham City Council has now launched a consultation to ban all abortion protests near the Station Road facility by introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
It comes as members of the ‘40 Days For Life’ anti-abortion group have been pitching up outside the clinic twice a year in autumn and over Lent for 40 consecutive days each time, as well as on a twiceweekly basis throughout the year.
The protests have led to verbal and physical confrontations, with police recording an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area.
Neighbours have also complained about upsetting leaflets being pushed through doors.
The group previously protested outside the Marie Stopes Clinic in Arthur Road, Edgbaston, for nine years before it closed in 2020.
Now Kings Norton resident Liz Bates is among 60 neighbours to form the ‘Reclaiming our Road’ group which has been campaigning in favour of the PSPO.
She told the Post: “There have been regular arguments and I have
often had to stop my car to diffuse confrontations. Residents have also had to comfort women coming out of the clinic who are upset because of their interaction with these protesters.
“They are persistent and intrusive and they are harassing and intimidating for women accessing the clinic.
“These protesters are not from this area and we feel strongly that this is our clinic and we will defend it and women’s right to access legal, safe healthcare.”
According to consultation documents, the PSPO will tackle certain behaviour from protesters.
If approved, it would cover the area between Northfield Road, Beaumont Road, the A4040 Watford Road and Selly Oak Road.
The document states: “The activities complained of relate to protesters making known their disapproval of the users, visitors and employees
of the clinic by handing out leaflets including leaflets with disturbing and graphic images, praying, chanting, singing hymns, harassing and intimidating behaviour including blocking the pathway to the clinic approaching those entering the clinic.
“Local residents have reported the effect the activities of the protesters and the presence of the protesters have had on their quality of life, including being unable to enjoy their
homes and gardens, having to explain the presence and purpose of the protesters to their own young children, and their mental health being affected by the continuing presence of the protest outside their homes or whilst they go about their day to day lives.
“Residents have felt upset at the effect the protesters’ presence has on those using the clinic.”
Staff and service users have complained of explicit signs including one reading ‘do not kill your baby’, with service users reporting feeling “emotional and scared” and crying.
One resident is recorded as saying: “I could leave my curtains closed, not open my front door and not sit in my lounge – then I wouldn’t have to see them, but why should I have to do that to protect my mental health.
“My lounge is a lovely, sunny haven – and yet for 80 days a year I can’t sit in there without feeling miserable and helpless.
“They are there every day – even on weekends when the clinic is closed.”
A spokesperson for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which runs the clinic, said it supported the move, adding: “The protesting is very upsetting for clients and for residents in the local area.
“It’s been going on for so long now and it’s time for the council to step in.
“This is not a silent vigil, this is a tangible everyday threat to our service users and it’s upsetting for people to have to walk past.
“The mission statement from this group is to end abortion, and what we are clear on is that this is legal healthcare that women are entitled to access.
“These protests form a barrier to accessing that care and can put people off.”
40 Days For Life was unavailable for comment.
They are persistent.. they are harassing and intimidating for women accessing the clinic.
Neighbour