Investigation Launched on Third Occasion of Anti-Abortion Activist Praying Near Medical Center
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a pro-life campaigner from Birmingham, UK, is currently facing a third police investigation for silently praying outside an abortion clinic[1][2][3][5]. The Catholic advocate has been consistently praying at this location for about 20 years[1].
In the past, Vaughan-Spruce has been arrested twice by West Midlands Police for the same act[6]. Both arrests were challenged in court and eventually dropped due to lack of evidence, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) declining to prosecute because silent prayer did not meet evidential or public interest thresholds[2][3][4]. Despite this, the police have continued to question and monitor her[2][3][4].
Vaughan-Spruce and supporting groups argue that silent prayer is a protected expression of freedom of thought and should not be criminalized. She has lodged a formal complaint against police harassment, which was declined because of the ongoing investigation[3][4][5]. She emphasizes that pursuing action against silent prayer infringes on human rights and has described the repeated investigations and arrests as unjust harassment[3][4][5].
A new law, which makes it an offence for anyone within a 'buffer zone' to do anything that could intentionally or recklessly obstruct, harass, alarm or distress anyone visiting or working at the clinics, was introduced recently[7]. However, Vaughan-Spruce has continued to pray silently outside clinics every week[8].
ADF International, a charity committed to protecting freedom of expression, is supporting Vaughan-Spruce in her case[9]. The organization has campaigned against buffer zones around clinics. Vaughan-Spruce has also met with lawyers from the US House Judiciary Committee to discuss restrictions on silently praying outside clinics[9].
The latest status is that the West Midlands Police have an active investigation and have sought prosecutorial advice, but no charges have yet been brought for this third instance of silent prayer outside the clinic[1][2][5]. The police force's Department for Professional Standards rebuked her complaint due to the ongoing investigation[3].
The Daily Mail has approached ADF International and West Midlands Police for comment, but no response has been received at the time of writing[10]. Vaughan-Spruce issued a claim for multiple wrongful arrests, false imprisonments, assault and battery, breach of her human rights in 2022 and 2023[4].
References:
- The Times
- BBC News
- The Tablet
- The Catholic Universe
- ADF International
- The Independent
- Gov.uk
- The Catholic Universe
- ADF International
- The Daily Mail
- The ongoing investigation by West Midlands Police against pro-life campaigner Isabel Vaughan-Spruce for silently praying outside an abortion clinic is part of a broader debate on freedom of expression, particularly in the context of general-news and politics.
- Despite previous court decisions that dropped charges against Vaughan-Spruce due to lack of evidence, the continued police scrutiny and questions have sparked calls for the protection of freedom of thought, a key aspect of crime-and-justice and human rights discussions.
