A Catholic girl has been arrested for silently praying outdoors an abortion clinic simply weeks after being acquitted for a similar offence.
Footage of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, 45, director of anti-abortion group March for Life UK, being arrested for a second time outdoors the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham, has emerged on-line.
Officers will be heard asking Ms Vaughan-Spruce to ‘step outdoors the exclusion zone’ that exists across the clinic.
Nevertheless, she tells officers that she is ‘not protesting’ and ‘not participating in any of the actions prohibited’.
The officer responds: ‘However you have mentioned you are participating in prayer, which is the offence’, to which she replies: ‘Silent prayer.’
Footage of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, 45, being arrested for a second time outdoors the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham, has emerged on-line
West Midlands Police confirmed a 45-year-old girl had been arrested on suspicion of breaching a public house safety order (PSPO) yesterday
The officer then says, ‘No, however you have been nonetheless participating in prayer. It’s an offence’, to which Ms Vaughan-Spruce answered: ‘I disagree.’
She was then arrested by six officers.
In an announcement by her authorized representatives, ADF UK, Ms Vaughan-Spruce mentioned: ‘Solely three weeks in the past, it was made clear by the court docket that my silent prayers weren’t a criminal offense.
‘And but, once more, I’ve been arrested and handled as a legal for having the very same ideas in my head, in the identical location.
‘The paradox of legal guidelines that restrict free expression and thought – even in peaceable, consensual dialog or in silent, inner prayer.’
Ms Vaughan-Spruce was confronted by police when she was standing on the road outdoors the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham, on December 6
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce (proper) pictured outdoors Birmingham Magistrates’ Courtroom with Father Sean Gough final month
In keeping with ADF UK, a charity dedicated to defending freedom of expression which have campaigned towards the buffer zones, Ms Vaughan-Spruce has been topic to bail circumstances prohibiting her from going close to the abortion facility.
West Midlands Police confirmed a 45-year-old girl had been arrested on suspicion of breaching a public house safety order (PSPO) yesterday, following complaints from members of the general public.
They mentioned: ‘The girl was suggested to depart the realm, and refused, earlier than being issued with a hard and fast penalty discover. When she refused to depart once more, she was arrested.
‘She has now been bailed whereas statements are taken from residents and other people working within the space.’
The power added: ‘This order was put in place by a court docket, following a joint software from West Midlands Police and Birmingham Metropolis Council, to guard girls from harassment by any means if they’re searching for a medical process or recommendation at an abortion clinic.
‘It’s our position to implement the PSPO and reassure these it was designed to guard.’
The arrest comes simply weeks after she was discovered not responsible by Birmingham Magistrates Courtroom for silently praying outdoors the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham, on December 6.
Her arrest sparked a fierce debate, with supporters saying she was successfully arrested for ‘thoughtcrime’, a time period which ADF UK used – however she was cleared of all costs.
Following her not responsible verdict, Ms Vaughan-Spruce mentioned in an announcement outdoors court docket: ‘I am glad I have been vindicated of any wrongdoing. However I ought to by no means have been arrested for my ideas and handled like a legal merely for silently praying on a public road.’
Buffer zones make it an offence to intimate or harass anybody inside 150 metres of an abortion clinics and have been launched as an modification to the Public Order Invoice final yr.
The exclusion zones are areas round clinics the place sure abortion-specific harassment such a displaying graphic indicators, following and filming girls, and repeatedly approaching girls and docs should not allowed.
The UK’s first buffer zone was launched round an abortion clinic in Ealing, west London, in 2018.
Buffer zones have been hailed by pro-choice campaigners as an vital step in direction of de-stigmatising abortion and stopping harassment of those that attend abortion clinics.
Nevertheless, critics see them as an assault on freedom of expression.
MPs are set to debate at this time on the rollout of buffer zones throughout the England and Wales.