Protests outside abortion clinic face council ban to stop staff harassment

♦protests outside an abortion clinic could be banned in an effort to stop women and staff from being harassed and intimidated.

Ealing borough council, in west London, will vote tonight on whether to introduce a “buffer zone” around a Marie Stopes centre after a public consultation gained overwhelming support.

Councillors will decide whether to introduce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which would allow the authority to prohibit a range of protesting activities within a defined distance of the clinic.

Those in breach of a PSPO can be subject to fines of up to £1,000.

There are calls from parliamentarians – led by Rupa Huq, Ealing’s Labour MP – to impose buffer zones around family planning clinics nationally.

Last year, 113 MPS wrote to Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, urging legislation.

Speaking ahead of the vote, Ms Huq called on the council to introduce the measure so that women “can go about their lawful business” without fear of intimidation.

In evidence submitted during Ealing council’s public consultation, protesters were pictured surrounding the clinic holding posters of foetuses and babies as well as placards with slogans such as “Stop child abuse, stop abortion” and “Abortion kills babies”.

Ms Huq told The Daily Telegraph: “I sincerely hope that Ealing council follows its original recommendation to introduce a buffer zone around this facility so women can go about their lawful business and avail themselves of this NHS procedure in anonymity and free from intimidation.”

The council’s consultation received more than 2,000 online survey responses as well as written input from the police and the NHS, with 85 per cent supporting the proposed “safe zone”.