4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
'No Action' after first Scotland buffer zone arrest
The law, which came into effect in September, prohibits activities intended to influence people accessing abortion services within designated areas around clinics.
Offences can result in fines of up to £10,000 or higher penalties in serious cases.
Ms Docherty's sign read: 'Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.' She was charged following her arrest.
The Crown Office initially issued her with a formal warning — which, if accepted, would have avoided prosecution — however, she declined, calling it 'unjust.'
The case has now been marked 'no further action' at this stage, though prosecutors have reserved the right to pursue it in the future.
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Reacting to the decision, Ms Docherty said: 'This is a victory not just for me, but for everyone in Scotland who believes we should be free to hold a peaceful conversation.'
ADF International, the anti-abortion legal group supporting her, described the outcome as a 'major free speech victory.'
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: 'The Procurator Fiscal received a report relating to a 75-year-old female and an incident said to have occurred on February 19, 2025.
'Professional prosecutors from COPFS considered the report. All Scotland's prosecutors operate independently of political influence.
'After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, it was decided that there should be no further action taken at this time.
'The Crown reserves the right to take proceedings in relation to this incident in the future.'
The Scottish Government has said the buffer zone law is necessary to protect patients from potential harassment and ensure they can access services without interference.
Supporters of the legislation argue that it safeguards privacy and dignity, while opponents believe it restricts freedom of expression.
Vice President JD Vance, who is currently visiting Scotland, has criticised Scotland's abortion buffer zones, describing them as an example of "free speech in retreat".
The Scottish Government has since said the comments made by the American vice president are wrong.
The law covers using any "areas" in a buffer zone to publicly display anti-abortion messages and distressing images as it can be seen as aimed at women in the public space.
