On October 7th, a 'buffer zone' was introduced outside the Marie Stopes Abortion Clinic in Manchester. According to the BBC, the people visiting the clinic felt harassed by the pro-life campaigners. On the other side, the campaigners assured the clinic to be peaceful and stand outside with banners. After the case in Fallowfield, Pro-Choice groups seek to get the same PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) for other abortion clinics.
Antonia Tully of SPUC said: “What is so terrible about offering women last-minute help as they approach the abortion clinic? Every year, hundreds of women take advantage of this help."
“Manchester City Council was determined to believe the false premise that pro-life vigils are necessarily aggressive and threatening. In the consultation the Council asked whether intimidatory behaviour outside clinics was a ‘problem’, with no option for people to say that no such behavior was taking place. The fact is that the people who take part in pro-life vigils have neither capacity for nor inclination to aggressive or coercive behaviour.” - Antonia Tully