News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Marie-Stopes-Clinic-in-Ealing-and-the-Good-Counsel-Network-main_article_image.jpg
Google Maps/GCN
UK News

Council to vote on barring Christian pro-life activists from Ealing abortion clinic

by Press Association

More than 3,500 responses were submitted over eight weeks after Ealing Council launched a public consultation in January on the introduction of a public space protection order (PSPO).

The local authority has been exploring a range of options on how to prevent "intimidation, harassment and distress" for women using the Marie Stopes clinic in the west London borough following a petition set up by local women.

Christians staging prayer vigils outside the site have previously denied any suggestion they harass or abuse patients.

Last year, one of the groups, the Good Counsel Network (pictured above) told Premier its members have been holding vigils outside for more than 23 years and their work is entirely peaceful.

In October 2017, Clare McCullough from the Catholic group said: "We've been holding daily vigils there for the last four years.

"There have never been any incidents there.

"There have never been any arrests of charges made there against anybody."

John Hansen-Brevetti, clinical operations manager for the clinic, said people calling themselves "pavement counsellors" patrol outside the building daily, barring women's paths, providing "biased" advice and showing them graphic images.

He said: "What it will do is create a zone of safety for our clients to come and access treatments without having to go through the kind of harassment and cruelty that they've faced for the better part of three decades now.

"It's a landmark decision in that it's the first of its kind in the UK and it has the potential to influence other similar initiatives around the country.

"It's something we're very excited to see happening, and we're really looking forward to our clients being able to access treatments free from that kind of emotional blackmail."

A number of councils in London, Birmingham and Leeds are exploring implementing something similar, he added.

The clinic, located in a quiet residential area of Ealing, provides around 7,000 medical and surgical abortions a year, mainly on the NHS with some private procedures.

The council's cabinet members are due to vote on the proposal at a full council meeting on 10th April.

If it goes ahead, the PSPO could come into force immediately, with those breaching its conditions liable to be fined or prosecuted.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate