Buffer zones law disproportionate - CARE

A buffer zones law that's due to come into force in Scotland within weeks is "unnecessary and disproportionate", CARE has said.

The new legislation, which outlaws pro-life activity within 200m of 30 clinics around Scotland, is due to come into force on 24 September.

Michael Veitch, Policy Officer at CARE for Scotland, commented:

“This legislation is unnecessary, and disproportionate. Police officers were already empowered to deal with any problematic behaviour near medical settings under a suite of existing, well-balanced laws. The harassment pro-abortion campaigners alleged to be taking place was not borne out by evidence, including freedom of information data from Police Scotland. This policy has always been about curtailing the expression of views that people disagree with.

“The buffer zones law opens the door to: peaceful, pro-life Scots being criminalised for praying silently in public; Scots who live next to a buffer zone being arrested for displaying a pro-life slogan in the window of their private dwelling; and Christian ministers being prosecuted for displaying a Bible verse on a church building that borders a buffer zone. People are rightly questioning whether such outcomes are conducive to a free society.

“Pursuing this legislation has diverted political attention away from other serious issues relating to abortion in Scotland: discrimination against preborn babies with disabilities; the law being out-of-step with improvements in foetal viability; record numbers of abortions; and abortions driven by inequality including poverty. It is troubling that these very serious issues remain unaddressed, and we’d urge parliamentarians to consider them in the years ahead.”

ENDS

Notes for editors:

CARE for Scotland provides analysis of social policy from a Christian perspective. For more information, or to request an interview with a CARE policy expert, contact: press@care.org.uk