Edinburgh student backs call to ban protesters at abortion clinics as poll shows majority Scots support the move

An Edinburgh student has backed calls to ban protesters outside sexual health clinics, as a new survey shows majority of Scots back the move.

Edinburgh student Alice Murray attended Chalmers clinic in 2019

Alice Murray attended Chalmers sexual health centre in the city in September 2019 to get an abortion and was shocked and angry when she saw protesters outside.

The 21-year-old is supporting campaigners demands for government to protect women from harassment by creating buffer zones limiting protesters access to clinics.

It comes as findings from a poll by the Humanist Society show that Scots strongly support action to limit protests outside NHS facilities offering abortion services, with 8 in 10 in favour.

Campaign group Back Off Scotland said buffer zones are a “no brainer”. The grassroots campaign was formed in Edinburgh in a bid to stop anti-choice individuals from coming within 150 metres of the Chalmers clinic.

Ms Murray said: “It is so patronising. These groups make people question their own judgement, or try to guilt them. For me I was confident in my decision but I still felt angry seeing them.

“They had a strong presence with signs and were handing out leaflets, approaching people coming in.”

“People use these clinics for different reasons and that makes it even worse. Women could be put off coming in just for a check-up. It’s so offensive, like we can’t make up our own minds.”

Pro-life campaigners have demonstrated outside a number of clinics and centres across Scotland, sparking widespread concern that they are denying women the right to privacy.

MS Murray added: “Women need to feel safe to go to clinics for treatment. Not risk facing further trauma or being triggered by people creating additional stress for them. It makes it so loaded.”

“When I came out I was knackered and just wanted to go home and prepare for what was to come. I felt drained and wanted to be left alone and go in peace to recover. After abortion early stages the effects on body can be similar to a miscarriage. It’s very intense.”

“We need to stop these protests and make sure reproductive health care is the best it can be. The staff were great. But protesters overshadow that. They shouldn’t be allowed to play on people at a time when they are vulnerable.”

Campaign group Back Off Scotland have lodged petitions with Edinburgh and Glasgow councils and are launching a national petition this month.

Lucy Grieve, co-founder of the campaign said, “The findings of this new poll show strong levels of support for buffer zones – the ultimate goal of our campaign. It’s a no brainer. Now is the time for the Scottish government to act and legitimise buffer zones around all clinics providing abortion services in Scotland.”

Professor Maggie Kinloch from Humanist Society Scotland said: “This research unequivocally shows public backing for restricting protests that deliberately target individual healthcare service users. These protests are often orchestrated by ultra-conservative religious groups who believe a woman’s role in life is simply to be a mother.

“We ask the Scottish government to make clear what they support: the rights of women to privacy and to access the services they deem appropriate to their healthcare, or the rights of the protesters to harass them in the street.”

The Scottish government was contacted for comment.

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