An anti-abortion campaigner has claimed that "pro-lifers have been subject to two-tier policing for a long time" in a heated debate around silent prayer.
This comes as it has been revealed that the Home Office plans to stop silent prayer outside abortion centres, as well as ensure protests don't happen within 500 feet of the building.
Speaking to GB News, anti-abortion campaigner Isabel Vaughan-Spruce said: "Nobody has a right to not feel awkward or not to be made feel awkward. Not that that's why we're there or that our presence does that, but that's not a right that anyone has.
"Many of the women that I've connected with over the years, and it's about 20 years of going outside of abortion centres, have chosen life. Have managed to continue a pregnancy because of the support that we've given them and because of what many have done for them.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is an anti-abortion campaigner
GB News
"These are mothers who otherwise would have been pressured into having an abortion just by their circumstances or those around them.
"I think we're really seeing a case of two-tier policing here. I'm glad more people are having concerns nowadays about the two-tier policing policies because quite frankly, pro-lifers have been at the brunt of this for a very long time."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
She added: "There was an article recently about how women are spat on outside abortion centres. They are, and it's me and my volunteers, not those going in.
"Those going in are spoken to, they're offered help. This isn't intimidating to women, and it's not harassment. Harassment is already illegal in this country, but in the new laws that are being proposed, the new buffer zones, the word influencing is used.
"It's unprecedented to have such an ambiguous word like this used in law to explain criminality. We need clarity in law.
"When I'm outside the abortion centres, standing there silently praying other people are standing there silently, maybe having a cigarette, maybe waiting for a partner who's in the abortion centre, maybe waiting for a taxi. Police aren't coming to ask them what they are doing."
Pro-lifers could be unable to silent protest soon
Getty
Reverend Michael Coren argued: "I think that you know you're going to be arrested and there's usually someone there with the camera filming you being arrested that goes online quite quickly. We've seen this replicated in North America, too.
"I want to build a coalition of people who have reservations about abortion. I want to make sure that, for example, women in difficult circumstances are getting financial support. I'd like to make sure that paternity payments are enforced at this daycare so the poor women can maybe if they have a real choice, continue with the pregnancy.
"I can tell you what's happening in the United States, and I'm there very often when abortion is criminalised, women still get abortions.
"If they have the money, it's poor women who are forced into greater poverty. I just want a more holistic response to this.
Reverend Michael Coren claimed that people can pray anywhere
GB News
"I don't think by praying close to someone, even if you're praying for that person, and I respect your sincerity in this but you can pray for that person anywhere you like."
"There is a feeling of intimidation when you say women don't feel intimidated. With all due respect, I don't think we can speak for other people in such a way."
The draft guidance introduced by the past government, which has not yet come into force, allowed for silent prayer within "safe access zones".
The Telegraph reported that Ministers will review this guidance and pro-choice campaigners are hoping that silent prayer and handing out leaflets will be massively limited.
