High Court Says Silent Prayer Outside Abortion Clinics Could Be ‘Detrimental’

Judges dismissed legal challenges against the BCP council, saying it had lawfully followed the democratic and consultative procedures when imposing restrictions

Pro-life campaigner Adam Smith-Connor in an undated file photo. Courtesy of ADF UK

It’s “naïve and simplistic” to suggest silent prayer outside abortion clinics “cannot be considered ‘detrimental’ to a person’s quality of life,” High Court judges said on Friday.

The remark is part of a judgement that dismissed legal challenges brought against the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council over its creation of abortion clinic buffer zones using a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).