Pro life campaigner under third investigation for praying outside abortion clinic

A Christian pro-life campaigner has reported she is being investigated again for praying outside an abortion clinic.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who has been praying and offering support to women outside abortion clinics for 20 years, had been cleared of wrongdoing on two occasions, but revealed she is now facing a third police investigation.

Vaughan-Spruce had complained to the police about being repeatedly questioned and harassed, without any explanation of how she had broken the law.

She said this treatment went against previous court rulings in her favour and guidance from the CPS.

However, her complaint was rejected because of yet another active investigation against her — the first time she learned it was taking place.

In previous incidents, Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for allegedly breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), also known as a ‘buffer zone’, around an abortion facility. The order bans “expressions of approval or disapproval” of abortion, including through prayer.

Both cases against her were dropped, and she later received £13,000 compensation from West Midlands Police for wrongful arrest.

Vaughan-Spruce continues to pray near the clinic each week. According to ADF UK, which is supporting her, police officers have been seen observing her during prayer and sometimes approach her to ask if she is praying.

“Despite being fully vindicated… it’s unbelievable that I am still being harassed by police for silently praying,” she said.

“Silent prayer cannot possibly be a crime – everyone has the right to freedom of thought.”

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) issued guidance last year stating that silent prayer within a buffer zone may not always be a criminal offence, with prosecutors required to consider the context and circumstances of each case.

West Midlands Police have now sought CPS advice on Vaughan-Spruce’s situation.

ADF UK believes this case could be the first significant test of the CPS guidance.

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF International, said: “’Buffer zones’ are among the most concerning frontiers of censorship in the modern West. We all stand against harassment and abuse, but the law is being interpreted by police officers to target innocent people who happen to stand in a certain place and believe a certain thing.”