Second Prayer Arrest
Bullying police have told a Catholic woman that 'praying is an offence' as she was arrested a second time outside an abortion clinic just weeks after being acquitted for the same offence.
Video shared online shows Isabel Vaughan-Spruce being arrested outside the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
Officers order Mrs Vaughan-Spruce to 'step outside the exclusion zone' that exists around the clinic. However, she tells officers that she is 'not protesting' and 'not engaging in any of the activities prohibited'.
Police respond: 'But you've said you're engaging in prayer, which is the offence', to which she replies: 'Silent prayer.'
The officer then says, 'No, but you were still engaging in prayer. It is an offence', to which Ms Vaughan-Spruce answered: 'I disagree.'
The slight and entirely peaceful Christian was then arrested by six officers.
In a statement through her legal representatives, ADF UK, Ms Vaughan-Spruce said: 'Only three weeks ago, it was made clear by the court that my silent prayers were not a crime.
'And yet, again, I have been arrested and treated as a criminal for having the exact same thoughts in my head, in the same location.
'The ambiguity of laws that limit free expression and thought - even in peaceful, consensual conversation or in silent, internal prayer - leads to abject confusion, to the detriment of important fundamental rights. Nobody should be criminalised for their thoughts.'
'This order was put in place by a court, following a joint application from West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council, to protect women from harassment by any means if they are seeking a medical procedure or advice at an abortion clinic.
'It is our role to enforce the PSPO.'
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