Ban on Protests Around Richmond Abortion Clinic Set to be Extended to 2028

A ban on protests outside a South West London abortion clinic is set to be extended until 2028. The buffer zone around the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) clinic on Rosslyn Road, Twickenham, was first put in place in 2019.

Extension of the Public Spaces Protection Order

Richmond Council's regulatory committee approved plans on October 8 to extend the public spaces protection order (PSPO), which enforces the buffer zone, around the clinic for another three years after the current ban expires in March. It bans protesting abortion, along with interfering with, intimidating or harassing clients and staff of BPAS Richmond within the buffer zone. It also prohibits recording or photographing clients and staff while they are in the buffer zone, and displaying any text or images relating to the termination of pregnancy.

Kiran Vagarwal, assistant director for stronger and safer communities, said: "The proposal is that we continue with the public spaces protection order. It's tailored to what we need locally as a community, it's got the right prohibitions in there as well." The buffer zone covers the following locations:

• Rosslyn Road
• Ravensbourne Road
• Riverdale Road
• Ellesmere Road
• Arlington Road
• Parts of St. Margaret’s Road and Richmond Road

Impact on Patients and Staff

The PSPO originally came into force after protests and vigils from pro-life groups outside the clinic ramped up in 2013, to the extent that they took place almost daily. Women using the clinic reported feeling upset, intimidated and harassed before the ban came into force in 2019. People reported protestors showing images to residents and visitors of the clinic, trying to speak to them and handing out leaflets and rosary beads, which left them feeling upset, intimidated and harassed.

The report said the council's investigation into the issues found the protests were "having a negative impact on those who visit, work, reside in the local area or visit the clinic and that they felt harassed, alarmed or distressed" by them. Testimonies from patients provided by the clinic in 2018 included one woman, who said: "[The protesters were] handing out leaflets and rosaries. I haven’t stopped crying since I came in. I was upset and scared anyway and this nearly made me turn around and go home." Another added: "Felt attacked and intimidated, scared to hear what she was going to say/see what she wanted to give us. Makes an already unpleasant and traumatic experience ten times worse."

Public Consultation and Support

The council believes that the PSPO has had a positive effect as a deterrent and enhanced both the council and the police's ability to deal with problems observed by officers. The authority carried out a consultation from July to September on extending the PSPO, with 97per cent of 663 respondents in favour of the move. Lib Dem councillor Rob O'Carroll said: "This is one of the most supported things that we've ever done on this council. This is a thing which is truly cross-party."

Since the buffer zone was introduced in 2019, the report said, there have been no known breaches of the restrictions or complaints to the council. Richmond Council will make a final decision on the plans before March.