Buffer zone comes into force outside Bournemouth abortion clinic
Anyone caught protesting or harassing visitors or staff could incur a £100 fine
Last updated 12th Oct 2022
A buffer zone will come into force around an abortion clinic in Bournemouth to prevent anti-abortion campaigners harassing visitors and staff.
It follows concerns people at the site in Charminster were being subjected to abuse by protestors.
Anyone breaching the new restriction from Thursday will face a £100 fine.
In a statement, BCP Council said: "Following a decision made by the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Councillor Bobbie Dove, a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) will be in place from this Thursday around the British Pregnancy Advice Service clinic on Ophir Road, Bournemouth."
Councillor Bobbie Dove from BCP Council said: "We became aware of behaviours having a detrimental impact at this location in November 2021.
"Teams from BCP Council, in partnership with Dorset Police, have since worked extremely hard over the past nine months to understand the difficulties and experiences of people either visiting or working at the clinic.
"We tried to find a negotiated position which could be agreed upon by all the parties involved, but this was unsuccessful.
"We then launched a two-month consultation on options for the area and the strength of support for the introduction of a PSPO was clear from the number of responses we received.
"I looked very carefully at all the views received during the consultation and listened closely to the experiences of those living nearby.
"Whilst we acknowledge the right of anyone to conduct a peaceful protest, we had to balance this against the distress caused or likely to be caused, and the detrimental impact of behaviours experienced by those accessing medical services or doing their jobs.
"The conclusion I arrived at is a balanced and proportionate decision that will benefit the clinic’s users, its staff and the residents living on roads that surround the clinic.
"I thank everyone who either took part in the consultation, or wrote to me, for their time and views on this very difficult and sensitive matter."
The buffer zone will be in operation Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7am – 7pm.
Neighbourhood Inspector Joe Wheable, of Bournemouth Police, said: "Dorset Police recognises the rights of people to conduct peaceful protests, however we also recognise that everyone has the right to access medical services without being subject to distress.
“We have been supporting the local authority to utilise the legal powers available to prevent and reduce behaviours which have had or are likely to have a detrimental impact on those in the locality through the securing of a Public Space Protection Order.
“We will continue to work with our local partners and will take appropriate action in response to any reported breaches of the order.”
The public consultation on whether a PSPO should be introduced presented three different options for those that agreed a safe zone around the clinic should be implemented. There was also a ‘no change’ option.
There were 2,241 responses to the consultation. 75% of respondents supported the principle of a PSPO being implemented, while 24% did not support it.
The full decision is available to view here.