AN ABORTION clinic in Bournemouth has responded after a man was fined for ‘praying for his dead son’ within a protection zone.

British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS) has supported BCP Council after its officers fined Adam Smith-Connor for ‘praying silently’ outside the abortion clinic in Ophir Road in November last year.

As reported, Mr Smith-Connor claimed to be praying silently in memory of “[his] son” after apparently paying for a partner to have an abortion more than 20 years prior.

In doing so, he was in breach of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) enforced outside the clinic which criminalises “protesting, namely engaging in an act of approval/disapproval or attempted act of approval/disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services”.

Dorset Echo: Adam Smith-Connor, who was fined for silently praying outside BPAS abortion clinic in Ophir Road, BournemouthAdam Smith-Connor, who was fined for silently praying outside BPAS abortion clinic in Ophir Road, Bournemouth (Image: ADF UK)

This includes prayer or counselling.

Faith-based legal advocacy organisation ADF UK is supporting Smith-Connor and has engaged a legal team to challenge his fine.

However, a spokesperson for BPAS has told the Echo that any legal action will likely be dismissed – citing similar examples at other sites in Richmond and Ealing.

The spokesperson said: “BPAS strongly supports the PSPO in Bournemouth. It is the right tool to tackle anti-abortion clinic harassment, as no other anti-social behaviour tools, or related legislation, have proven effective at addressing this action. 

Dorset Echo: Consultation notice outside BPAS clinic in BournemouthConsultation notice outside BPAS clinic in Bournemouth

“Outside BPAS Richmond, in the years running up to the introduction of a PSPO, anti-abortion groups were present outside every day that the clinic was open. Since the PSPO has been in place, there has not been a single person present outside the clinic.

“Separately, the courts have upheld PSPOs in other sites. A PSPO in Ealing was subject to a legislative challenge in the High Court, but the claims of anti-abortion groups were dismissed and the Ealing PSPO was upheld in full – acknowledging that although the PSPO interfered with the rights of protesters, it was justified in order to uphold the rights of others in the vicinity.

“Individuals are entitled to hold their own views about abortion, but we ask that they respect women’s right to access healthcare with privacy and dignity.”

In a public consultation on whether the Bournemouth PSPO should be introduced, 75 per cent of the 2,241 responses were in support.