Anti-abortion vigil outside the British Pregnancy Advisory Service Clinic on Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham

Statement

We, the undersigned, petition the Council to take all measures within its power, including but not limited to the establishment of a Public Spaces Protection Order, to move anti-abortion campaigners away from the area immediately outside the Rosslyn Road clinic (to a distance of at least 100M) and to allow women to access its services free from interference and intimidation.

Details

The anti-abortionist vigils that occur daily on Rosslyn Road amount to more than the exercise of their right to protest and it is time that action is taken to prevent this harassment. The council can protect the space around the clinic under s59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and also have duties under s149 Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation of women. The sustained intimidation and presence outside the clinic not only causes great distress to patients, but has a persistent detrimental effect on people living, working in and visiting the Twickenham Riverside ward.

A previous petition was undertaken in 2014 which gathered 348 signatures and was presented to the council in November 2014, supported by Cllr Hill. A leading member of the Council Cabinet responded with a commitment to “do whatever is lawful to stop these protesters”. Unfortunately, at the time the Council did not think it was in its power to create an exclusion zone around the clinic. With the more recent introduction of PSPOs, which we are aware the Council now has experience of implementing, we would like to revisit this commitment to do whatever is lawful to stop the protesters and to protect women in Twickenham Riverside and the surrounding areas.

Started by: Caroline Rayfield (on behalf of Reclaim Rosslyn Road)

This petition ran from 18/12/2017 to 18/03/2018.

335 people have signed this petition.