Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department are taking to support local councils to manage protestors outside facilities providing abortion care while awaiting the implementation of safe access zones.

It is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel harassed or intimidated when trying to access, provide or facilitate abortion services.

The Police and Local Authorities already have powers to restrict harmful protests and prevent antisocial behaviour.

The Public Order Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 2 May. The timescales for commencing the new Section 9 offence of interference with access to, or provision of, abortion services will be confirmed in due course.