'Crucial day' for reproductive rights as buffer zones go live

The MSP responsible for the introduction of buffer zones near abortion clinics has hailed the first day of the new legislation as "crucial".

Green MSP Gillian Mackay was behind the bill which prevents anti-abortion protesters from gathering within 200m (656ft) of clinics where the procedure is carried out.

The zones, which are live from today, were introduced as a result of Mackay's Safe Access Zones Scotland Act , which was passed in June with the support of 118 MSPs from across the Chamber.

The law aims to stop the harassment of patients. There are now safe access zones at 30 health facilities around the country.

The clinics affected by the bill include the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh and Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.

Within the buffer zones, it is a criminal offence to behave in ways that could influence the decisions of women and staff to access services.

Stopping women and staff from entering the clinics or otherwise causing alarm, harassment or distress will also be an offence.

Anyone who breaks the new Safe Access Zone laws could be fined up to £10,000 or an unlimited amount in more serious cases.

Police Scotland will be responsible for enforcing the legislation.

Speaking as the laws came into force, Mackay said: "This is a crucial day for reproductive rights and healthcare in Scotland.

"I hope that it will be the end of the intimidation and harassment we have seen of people who are accessing healthcare."

She added: "Right from the first moment I saw footage of the protests, I could see how much damage they were doing and how many people were being impacted by them. I knew that I had to do everything I could to stop them.

"Over the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with the Scottish government to ensure that patients and staff know where protesters can and can't be so that they can report any activity that is against the law."

Mackay praised the work of campaign groups such as Back Off Scotland, who supported her legislation, and also thanked the women who shared their "often difficult and traumatic stories" of protests outside clinics.

She said: "I hope that this is a turning point and the beginning of the end of the protests, and that nobody else will have to endure them."

The Scottish government had also supported Mackay's legislation, with the women's health minister, Jenni Minto saying: "The introduction of Safe Access Zones is a crucial milestone in protecting women's abortion rights."

The minister added: "No one has the right to interfere in women's personal medical decisions and the law now makes that abundantly clear."

She praised Mackay and others who campaigned for the change, paying tribute to "the women who showed incredible courage in speaking up and sharing their experiences during the Bill process"

Minto said: "The new zones of 200m (656ft) around all abortion services will help ensure women have safe access to healthcare - free from intimidation. This law is about protection for women at a time when many will feel incredibly vulnerable around taking a deeply personal and difficult decision."

Similar legislation will come into force in England and Wales on 31 October.