This would be more extreme than neighboring England and Wales’ Public Order Act (2023), which sets the limits of buffer zones at 150 meters (492 feet) and does not permit extensions.
Under Scotland’s proposed law it would be illegal to try to influence a woman contemplating an abortion, which could extend to effectively criminalize silent prayer.
Because the law would also apply to “residential buildings” within the buffer zone, this may mean that residents could not even display a pro-life poster in their window without risk of a £10,000 fine (more than $12,000) on a summary conviction or an unlimited fine on indictment.
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for the organization Right to Life UK, said: “If this bill becomes law, the world’s most extreme buffer zone law will be introduced in Scotland.”
“This legislation goes further than any buffer zone legislation in other jurisdictions, creating a larger buffer zone than anywhere else in the world and giving the Scottish government powers to extend these zones without limit.”
Robinson went on to express concern that as a result of the legislation, pregnant women needing practical help would be denied this, and more babies’ lives would be lost. She continued: “Polling from Savanta ComRes shows that only 30% of the population in Scotland supports the introduction of nationwide buffer zones around abortion clinics.”