Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin to see ‘buffer zone’ created to prevent anti-abortion protests
Buffer zones, created with the purpose of preventing anti-abortion protests from taking place outside hospitals, will come into effect next week.
A 200m wide safe access zone will be created around Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin on September 24.
This follows the Scottish Parliament passing the Safe Access Zones Scotland Act in June.
The act, introduced by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, intends to stop what have been described as “intimidating” protests taking place around abortion service providers.
Ariane Burgess, Scottish Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands, welcomed the news of the act’s introduction which will also see similar zones created in Inverness, Lerwick and Stornoway.
Ms Burgess said: “This is a milestone for healthcare and reproductive rights in Moray.
“Nobody should have to pass protesters with graphic banners and sometimes even megaphones trying to stop them from accessing the healthcare they are entitled to, but that is what people have had to endure.
“The protesters know exactly what they are doing, and the distress and hurt that they are causing for patients and medical staff at hospitals. Now, at last, we are only weeks away from stopping them for good.
“I am grateful to my colleague Gillian Mackay MSP for all of her work in introducing this Act, as well as campaigners across Moray and everyone who contributed to the consultation and shared what I know were very difficult experiences. I hope that nobody else will have to go through what they have.”
Police Scotland will be responsible for enforcing the safe access zone.
Anyone found to have breached it could be fined up to £10,000 under summary procedure or an unlimited amount under solemn procedure.
