Anti-abortion campaigner arrested at peaceful protest

Paul Gardner was protesting in Cambridge when he was stopped by police and arrested. His arrest came under Section 4A of the Public Order Act after a member of the public objected to the images displayed on banners either side of him. The banners showed pictures of a third-trimester baby inside, and outside, of the womb, as well as an image of an aborted baby.

Police escorted Mr Gardner to Cambridge police station, where he was held for six hours. He was then released with no charges, and a subsequent meeting with the police confirmed that no offence had been committed.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire police said: “A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of public order offences during an anti-abortion protest last month. He was released with no further action.”

Under laws passed in October 2024, someone commits a crime if they engage in silent prayer or protest within 150 metres of a clinic or hospital providing abortion services. They could face an unlimited fine as a result. These laws, however, only apply in ‘buffer zones’ near abortion providers and not in city-centre demonstrations.

Mr Gardner said: “I was very surprised when I heard I was under arrest. We were out on the street to inform the public about what most MPs have voted for… It feels absurd that I was arrested in Cambridge for showing what the MP for Cambridge approves.”

He added: “A woman came along and demanded to see some proof that we had a licence or something to demonstrate that we were allowed to be doing what we were doing. We have documentation that covers the rights that we have, as well as information from a court case from about a decade ago that demonstrated in court that the things that we’re doing are legal.”

Mr Gardner’s arrest comes pro-life campaigner Isabel Vaughan-Spruce continues to be under investigation for the third time for silently praying within an abortion ‘buffer zone’. In two previous cases she has been acquitted of all charges, and had charges dropped, yet she has now been under investigation for ten months for a similar offence.