England: Man fined for silent prayer outside abortion facility in Bournemouth

Adam Smith-Connor

Adam Smith-Connor stood still and silent on the public street for a few minutes before being approached by “community safety accredited officers”.

He had his back to the clinic in order to be mindful of the privacy of staff and attendees of the abortion facility. Video footage shows the council officers asking what he was doing. Mr Smith-Connor informed them that he was “praying for my son, who is deceased”.

A censorship zone or “buffer zone” has been enforced since 13 October 2022. The zone was implemented by local authorities through a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which criminalises engaging in “an act” or even “attempted act” of “approval/disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services, by any means. This includes but is not limited to graphic, verbal or written means, prayer or counselling” within the area surrounding an abortion facility. The PSPO further prohibits religious acts, including reading scripture or crossing oneself. See the full PSPO terms here.

Mr Smith-Connor has now been issued a fine on the basis of the PSPO. The council stated in their email that the fine is based on his statement that he had been “praying for his son, who is deceased”.

ADF UK is supporting Mr Smith-Connor and has engaged a legal team to challenge his fine.

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, said: “Nobody should be criminalised for what they believe – especially not when they express that belief silently, in the privacy of their own minds. Just like in the case of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce last month, Adam could now face prosecution for holding thoughts, and lifting those thoughts to God in prayer, within a censorship zone. The rapid proliferation of orders criminalising volunteers such as Adam and Isabel should be a wake up call to all those who value freedom of expression – even freedom of thought – no matter their views on abortion.”

Upon learning that Mr Smith-Connor had been praying for his late son, the council officer responded: “I’m sorry for your loss. But ultimately, I have to go along with the guidelines of the Public Space Protection Order, to say that we are in the belief that therefore you are in breach of clause 4a, which says about prayer, and also acts of disapproval…”. When Smith-Connor interjected, “I’m just standing praying,”, she again responded, “I do understand that. But the PSPO is in place for a reason and we have to follow through on those regulations.”

Mr Smith-Connor said: “Twenty-two years ago I drove my ex-girlfriend to a facility and paid for her to have an abortion. It was a pivotal moment in my life. The consequences of my actions that day came back to grieve me years later, when I realized I had lost my son Jacob to an abortion I had paid for. Recently, I stood outside a similar facility and prayed to God for my son Jacob, for other babies who have lost their lives to abortion, for their grieving families, and for abortion clinic staff.”