UK: Woman arrested for praying in silence near abortion center

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a 45-year-old British woman, was arrested for allegedly violating a Public Space Protection Order on Dec. 6. That day, she decided to stand silently in the vicinity of the BPAS Robert Clinic at Kings Norton in Birmingham, U.K.

She was doing nothing aside from being still and pensive near the abortion center. A policeman saw her and approached to ask if she was praying. When she confessed that she was, the officer took her into custody, as reported by Birmingham Mail on Tuesday.

Fear of a "confrontation"

Days later, on Dec. 15, she was charged with violating four counts of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). According to Birmingham City Council, the regulation was implemented to ensure that "people visiting and working there have clear access without fear of confrontation." After posting bail, Vaughan-Spruce was released and summoned to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Feb. 2 of next year.

Birmingham introduced the PSPO in September

Vaughan-Spruce was arrested just 150 meters from the abortion clinic. This simple fact violates the Public Space Protection Order which came into effect on Sept. 7 and whereby, any "act of approval or disapproval" about abortion in the vicinity of the center will be considered a criminal offense, with a fine that can amount to up to

Orden de Protección del Espacio Público del Ayuntamiento de Birmingham by VozMedia on Scribd

Thou shalt not pray in public

The PSPO gives police too much power to silence pro-life activists, explains Spiked. The agents have the ability to order anyone they suspect of violating the exclusion zone to leave the area immediately and to provide their name and address. In addition, they can also be arrested and fined, which is what happened to Isabel Vaughan-Spruce.

Vaughan-Spruce will not only have to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court in February, Catholic News Agency said she has also been prohibited from participating in any public prayers, even outside the boundaries of the PSPO exclusion zones. Moreover, in order to post bail, she was initially required to stay out of contact with local Catholic priests who actively participate in abortion protests, but this condition was eventually dropped.