A woman has been arrested for a second time for the “offence” of silently praying in her head within an abortion facility censorship zone or “buffer zone”.
Bail conditions have been imposed on Isabel Vaughan-Spruce prohibiting her from attending an area within the vicinity of the abortion facilities which extends beyond the censorial “buffer zone”.
In February, she was cleared of criminal chargesfor violating a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which enforces a censorship zone around the abortion facility on Station Road, Birmingham.
A video obtained by ADF UK, the legal organisation which protects fundamental freedoms and has campaigned against censorship zones, shows police officers arresting Vaughan-Spruce for the second time.
“You’ve said you’re engaging in prayer, which is the offence,” the police officer is heard saying.
“Silent prayer,” replied Vaughan-Spruce.
“You were still engaging in prayer, which is the offence,” the officer replied.
The arrest, which was attended by six police officers, comes only weeks after the charitable volunteer was found “not guilty” by Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.
Vaughan-Spruce, who has volunteered to support women in crisis pregnancies for twenty years, had been criminally charged on the basis that her silent, imperceptible prayers amounted to “intimidation”.
However, the prosecution were not able to present any evidence to the court to substantiate the “thoughtcrime”, and Vaughan-Spruce’s name was cleared.
“Only three weeks ago, it was made clear by the court that my silent prayers were not a crime. And yet again I have been arrested and treated as a criminal for having the exact same thoughts in my head in the same location.
“The ambiguity of laws that limit free expression and thought – even in peaceful, consensual conversation or in silent, internal prayer – leads to abject confusion, to the detriment of important fundamental rights. Nobody should be criminalised for their thoughts.”
A local resident, Edel, who lives close to the abortion facility in question commented about Vaughan-Spruce’s arrest:
“There seems to be crime happening that is left unaddressed. And yet it is the people who are praying who are being targeted. I really question what the police are doing and why they’re spending their time and resources into targeting innocent people.”
MPs will vote today on banning silent prayer near all abortion facilities in England and Wales.
Clause 10 of the Public Order Bill would criminalise any form of “influencing” outside of abortion facilities, which would include prayer, consensual peaceful conversations, or offers of help about services available to those who would like an alternative choice to abortion.
Andrew Lewer MP has proposed an amendment to the bill that would exempt silent prayer and consensual conversations from the ban.
Reflecting ahead of today’s parliamentary debate, Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom UK, said:
“MPs will for the first time in modern British history be able to vote to make it abundantly clear that there is no room for ‘thought crime’ in modern UK law.
“It is deeply concerning that the basic rights of freedom of thought, peaceful expression, and individual liberty are even up for debate.
“This isn’t 1984, but 2023 – nobody should be criminalised for their thoughts, for their prayers, and for a consensual conversation on a public street.
“The cack-handed attempts to repeatedly criminalise Isabel’s prayers, and the clear confusion on the behalf of police officers about the status of freedom of thought under the law, makes clear that censorial ‘buffer zones’ are not fit for purpose in a democratic society.
“We all stand firmly against harassment on public streets. Harassment is already illegal. A government review in 2018 found that harassment near abortion facilities is rare, and peaceful prayer and offers of charitable help were the most common activities there.
“The government concluded at that point that censorship zones would be disproportionate. No further reviews have since been conducted. What has now changed?
“MPs should use their vote today to uphold freedom to pray, and have consensual conversations, on our streets.”
The full text of the PSPO, banning prayer, among other activities considered to constitute protest, is available here.
(Jeremiah Igunnubole and Isabel Vaughan-Spruce | ADF UK)
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