Calls to ban anti-abortion protests from gathering outside Manchester clinic
Video report by Lise McNally
Anti-abortion protestors could be banned from gathering outside a clinic in Manchester after claims of staff and patients feeling intimidated or harassed.
People holding pro-life signs gather outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Fallowfield most Saturdays, and two 40 day prayer vigils are held twice a year.
The clinic says that because it provides a number of services aside from abortions, including counselling and contraception, the presence of demonstrators could put people off accessing vital help.
Manchester City Council is now holding a consultation on whether to introduce a protest "buffer zone" for streets around Marie Stopes.
Why are people calling for a buffer-zone?
Staff at the Marie Stopes clinic say although they understand the right to freedom of speech, the doorstep of a medical facility is not an appropriate venue.
They say some service users are arriving "extremely upset", including vulnerable women who have been a vicim of domestic violence or sexual assault.
Nurses working at the clinic tell us that it's also "scary" for them to have to walk past demonstrators to get to work - saying they've been called murderers, and followed up the street.
How could a buffer zone come about?
Charities and medical bodies have called on previous Home Secretaries to bring in buffer zones outside all abortion clinics.
But for now, any moves must be taken at local level via a "Public Space Protection Order".
A similar "safe zone" was introduced outside a clinic in London in 2018.
If introduced in Manchester, it could ban certain actions from taken place within the red lines marked on the map above, including:
engaging in any act of approval / disapproval respect to issues related to abortion services by any means - including graphic, verbal or written methods
interfering with a staff member or service user, verbally or physically
displaying any text or images relating directly or indirectly to the termination of pregnancy
playing amplified music, voice or audio recordings with respect to the approval or disapproval of abortion services
Who is backing the PSPO?
A pro-choice campaign group called Sister Support Manchester also stand outside the clinic when demonstrations take place.
They offer to escort people in and out of the clinic.
Over the years they've been gathering evidence to submit to the city council demonstrating why they feel protests shouldn't take place on the same road.
The council consultation runs until mid November.
What are the objections?
Pro-life campaigners argue that vigils outside clinics are peaceful and a democratic right.
One group who have a presence outside is called 40 Days for Life, who hold a 40 day vigil outside the clinic twice a year.
They told ITV News that they do not harass or intimidate anyone. In fact, two members say it's them who are frequent victims of intimidation:
The group added that they've helped nearly 100 women since 2012 - and say an exclusion zone would banish help from where it's needed most.
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