Using almost identical language to that used by Vance, it has circulated statements claiming Smith-Connor is the victim of a “thought crime”. In reality, he had been prosecuted for breaching a public space protection order which had been put in place to protect staff and service users following issues with protests. The new buffer zone law that Vance referred to, which has since come into force, makes it illegal under the Public Order Act 2023 for anyone to do anything that intentionally or recklessly influences someone’s decision to use abortion services, obstructs them, or causes harassment or distress, within 150 metres of a clinic. The law doesn’t explicitly mention prayer, or silent prayer, but criminalises behaviour likely to intimate staff or service users.
Read more at The Guardian