Anti-abortion activists undeterred by law change

Anti-abortion activists have said a new law banning them from demonstrating outside a Leeds clinic will not stop them campaigning on the issue.

About 40 Christians have taken it in turns to campaign outside the MSI Reproductive Choices clinic for 12 hours a day since 25 September.

However, from Thursday it will become illegal to protest within a 150-metre radius of abortion clinics in England and Wales.

Ailish McEntee, a safeguarding midwife for MSI, said any "anti-choice activity" outside clinics could have a "significant impact" on service users and staff.

She told the BBC the introduction of a buffer zone for protesters outside an MSI clinic in Ealing, west London, in 2018 had been "completely transformative for accessing and providing abortion care".

Mr Redding, a teacher who attends a church in Leeds, said the group made up of Catholics and evangelical Christians had been taking part in the worldwide 40 Days for Life campaign.

It has taken place annually in Leeds since 2013, but he admitted he "did not know" if they would return in 2025.

"I think people will carry on [campaigning]. Whether we will campaign next year or not, I can't say.

"There's other pro-life things that are done."

Mr Redding criticised the law change, but said they would respect it and move further away for the final four days of this year's campaign.

"I can understand some people don't want us there, but other people have benefited from it," he said.

"Women have chosen life and been helped. To push us away is to deny certain people, certain women, that help."

Abortions are legal during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales.

Mr Redding said the campaigners were "discreet and respectful" if they approached anyone visiting the clinic on Barrack Road.

He described their presence as "peaceful and prayerful".

The Crown Prosecution Service said silent prayer outside clinics will not be automatically banned under the new law.

Instead, instances will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, with police and prosecutors deciding around the intent or recklessness of the person involved.

Two anti-abortion activists the BBC spoke to on Tuesday, retired teachers Dave and Annette, said they had been abused by some passers-by, but had also had the occasional positive interaction.

Annette, 69, said she was hit by a half-full can of energy drink thrown from a moving vehicle last week.

"Ninety per cent of people are indifferent. Of the other 10%, eight would be hostile and two would be positive," said 72-year-old Dave.

The couple from north Leeds, who did not want to provide their surname, said they were making a "declaration", rather than protesting.

"We have got these strong feelings, so we are putting our money where our mouth is," said Dave.

"We are not just talking the talk, we are walking the walk by coming here."

"It's a terrible thing when you see people make bad choices," said Annette, who insisted they were not judging others.

The couple said they had not approached anyone coming in and out of the clinic, but Ms McEntee said behaviour from some pro-life activists outside their 65 centres across England constituted "serious harassment".

That included "spitting, calling women ‘murderers’, crying out ‘mummy’ to women as they enter or leave, filming or taking photographs, and handing out false medical information".

She said: "There are many ways that anti-choice groups can and do express their views about abortion without harassing people about a decision they have already made, while they are entering a clinic.

"Everyone accessing an abortion deserves the same right to safety, privacy and dignity while attending a clinic, and everyone providing an abortion should be able to do their job without fear of anti-choice harassment."

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, who has previously criticised protests outside the clinic, said: "Nobody should feel intimidated when accessing abortion services, so I am pleased to see the legislation to move protesters away from clinics is coming into force.

“I will always defend the right to choose, and I hope that those visiting clinics now will feel more comfortable as a result of this change."

West Yorkshire Police said they had received no reports about activists outside the Barrack Road clinic since they began their campaign on 25 September.

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