What Bournemouth abortion clinic protestors are doing

The milestone is an important one for campaigners, staff and women who have been subjected to abuse and harassement.

A petition calling for such a zone surpassed more than 4,000 signatures, with significant backing from people living in this area.

Read more: Consultation on abortion clinic buffer zone WILL go ahead

And as a result of the support and a significant file of evidence, portfolio holder for community safety, Cllr Bobbie Dove announced at BCP Council's full council meeting on Tuesday that a consultation on a buffer zone would take place.

Here's everything you need to know.

What's the basic information on this?

The BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service) clinic in Ophir Road, Bournemouth has reported ongoing concerns with the activities of a pro-life organisation and individuals from local churches who either passively or actively protest against the clinic.

This is an issue which has been happening for years outside this clinic.

Where is the clinic?

In a residential area in a road which comes to a dead-end adjacent to the A338.

There is a grassed area opposite the clinic where protestors generally congregate.

What's been happening?

Ongoing concerns have been reported to the BCP Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) Team by the clinic and its clients about concerns relating to the presence and activities of protesters in the immediate area of the clinic, reporting alarm and distress caused by this activity.

What has been done previously?

In February 2019 the former Bournemouth Borough Council sought external legal advice to determine if the information and evidence received since 2017 met the legal thresholds to look at using tools and powers within the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 including a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

At this time it was concluded that insufficient evidence was available to support further action. Advice was given to the clinic regarding reporting methods and requirements.

For how long has the evidence been being gathered?

The evidence under consideration has been received since Feb 2019. The evidence obtained since February 2019 has now been assessed by counsel and their advice is that it would support an application in furtherance of any/each of the proposals suggested for consultation.

What evidence is there to support a potential PSPO outside the abortion clinic?

This is the evidence listed in the council decision report of the activities of protestors.

• Standing outside the door or at the steps, and across the road, sometimes making it difficult to access the Clinic without interacting with the protestors
• Handing out leaflets, asking what a visitor was there for
• Praying, sometimes whilst kneeling
• Singing
• Holding rosaries
• Approaching and offering leaflets to people in their cars
• Sprinkling “holy water” on the pavement outside the Clinic

Who are the protest groups?

There are a number of protest groups who visit the clinic site, these main groups being:

• Local church groups or groups associated to local church’s
• 40 Days for Life
• Sister Supporters - who support women's choice

Has the problem got worse?

The decision report from BCP Council on allowing the consultation, said due to the Covid pandemic there was a noticeable decrease in reports of abuse and harassment over 2020/2021.

However, protestors were aware of the days the clinic received clients and the clinic had to change their working arrangements during the pandemic.

During March and October, there was a noticeable increase in activity outside the clinic, due to 40 Day for Life holding vigils for 40 consecutive days. These vigils consist of people peacefully praying on the pavement and offering leaflets to those entering or leaving the Clinic.

What's happened so far? 

To date the ASB team have not received any reports from the wider community about the protestors. Officers have attended site and spoken to protesters and sent warning letters.

What options are available to deal with this?

1. Use Community Protection Notices (CPN) against specific identified individuals prohibiting them from protesting in the area or doing anything that causes harm to service users and the local community
2. Consider making a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to prohibit protests or behaviour that causes harm to clients and the local community in the locality.
3.  Pursue an injunction against specific individuals who can be identified. This would be under the same act with slightly different criteria. Other injunction options are available, including against persons unknown, although the circumstances that this could apply to are very limited.

BCP Council say the main problems with options one and three is that action can only generally be taken against named individuals. This means action would require victims of the behaviour to come forward in order to pursue a civil or criminal sanction and people could be unwilling to be identified in this public way.

Does anywhere else have a PSPO?

Ealing and Richmond Upon Thames local authorities have successfully used PSPO’s in similar circumstances. Ealing’s PSPO was upheld in both the High Court and Court of Appeal, with the court ruling that someone using the service is in the locality even if it is a one-off visit

What options will the consultation give?

• To exclude all protesting within a defined geographical area around the clinic
• To exclude all protesting within a defined geographical area around the clinic but to include a permitted area for protestors to gather without any restrictions on their activities in a designated area.
• To exclude all protesting within a defined geographical area around the clinic but to include a permitted area for protestors to gather which carefully limits the activity within two designated areas.

When will a decision be made? 

Consultation for six weeks from July 20. Analysis of results and options with a cabinet recommendation by September 16 on how to proceed.