The second London council to institute a controversial Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around an abortion facility has been taken to court. The censorship zone imposed by Richmond Council around an abortion clinic in Twickenham has banned prayer, offers of support and peaceful protest outside the facility.

Laurence Wilkinson, Legal Counsel for ADF International said the order criminalises free speech and peaceful protest. It also explicitly outlaws prayer – even silent prayer – concerning abortion. While PSPOs are intended to address anti-social behaviour, he said those in both Ealing and Richmond go far beyond that and could not be considered “reasonable or proportionate – banning even a simple offer of assistance”. He added: “Richmond has ignored the evidence that hundreds of women have been provided with practical help and support by pro-life volunteers outside abortion facilities. Local councils and the police have a broad range of existing powers to deal with any unlawful behavior. If we set a precedent that councils can start censoring speech with which they disagree, there is no logical stopping point.”

Richmond’s Public Space Protection Order came in the wake of the Home Secretary’s announcement that it would be disproportionate to introduce censorship zones on a national level last September.