Latest news with #bufferzones
Sky News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Woman arrested at anti-abortion protest in Glasgow faces no further action
Why you can trust Sky News A pensioner who was the first person in Scotland to be charged for allegedly breaching the nation's abortion buffer zones law will face no further action at this time. Rose Docherty, 75, was arrested after police were called to an anti-abortion protest near Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in February. Ms Docherty had been holding a sign that read: "Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want." The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act came into force last September and aims to prevent protesters from gathering within 200 metres of the 30 clinics around the country where terminations are carried out. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said it had carefully considered Ms Docherty's case and has decided to take no further action at this time. A spokesperson said: "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." Ms Docherty, who was supported by the legal team at Alliance Defending Freedom International, had previously rejected a formal warning offered by the Crown Office. She 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. "I stood with love and compassion, ready to listen to anyone who wanted to talk. Criminalising kindness has no place in a free society."
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Woman arrested at anti-abortion protest faces no further action
A woman who was arrested for taking part in an anti-abortion protest outside of a hospital in Glasgow will face no further Docherty, 75, was the first person to be charged under a new law which created buffer zones outside Scottish abortion had been taking part in a demonstration close to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Docherty had previously rejected a formal warning from the Crown Office, telling BBC Scotland News that it was "unjust". The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, which came into force last year, aims to stop the harassment of patients. Those who break the law could be fined up to £10,000 or an unlimited amount in more serious Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said it had carefully considered Ms Docherty's case and decided to take no further action. Doctors at the QEUH previously said that the protests, which have been held outside the hospital for nearly 10 years, were upsetting and intimidating for patients and the February protest, Ms Docherty had been holding a sign that said "coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want".She told the BBC's Scotcast: "I don't feel I was breaking the law because I feel this law is an unjust law."Following her arrest, the Crown Office sent her a formal said the procurator fiscal had decided against bringing Ms Docherty before a court and if she accepted the warning she would not be prosecuted."I said I wasn't accepting a warning because it's unjust," she told Scotcast. "I would be prepared to go to prison."A Crown Office spokesperson said: "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." 'Cruel and unkind' The abortion zones law was brought into force last was drawn up by Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay, who said women seeking the procedure were subjected to "totally unacceptable abuse and obstruction" outside the buffer zones, it is a criminal offence to behave in ways that could influence the decisions of women and staff to access women and staff from entering the clinics or otherwise causing alarm, harassment or distress is also an law prevents any protests or vigils from taking place within 200m (650ft) of 30 clinics around the Greg Irwin, a doctor at the QEUH, was pictured confronting a group of protesters in February the time, he said that the anti-abortion activists were "bullying" women trying to access healthcare and "upsetting" staff at the Irwin described the protests as "an unbelievably cruel and unkind thing to do".US Vice President JD Vance, who is currently visiting Scotland on a family holiday, criticised the buffer zones earlier this used the law as an example of Europe not protecting free speech enough and claimed people who live within safe access zones had been sent letters by the Scottish government warning them about praying within their homes.A Scottish government spokesperson said it had not sent such letters, and that only "intentional or reckless behaviour" was covered by the act.
Al Jazeera
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Russia seeking to create ‘buffer zones' in Ukraine, says Kremlin
Russian forces are pushing to create 'buffer zones' along the border with Ukraine, the Kremlin has said, as fighting rages on in the wake of a third round of peace talks that again failed to yield any progress towards a ceasefire, in a fourth year of war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the comments during a briefing on Thursday, signalling that Russia had no intention of de-escalating its war on Ukraine following a brief meeting Wednesday between delegations in Istanbul that lasted just 40 minutes. Negotiators in the Turkish city discussed further prisoner swaps, but remained far apart on a ceasefire and a proposed face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought by the latter. At a news conference in Istanbul following the talks, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, said an exchange of prisoners had been carried out on the Ukraine-Belarus border, with about 250 people returned to each side. More than 1,000 Ukrainians returned Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange, saying in a post on social media that Wednesday's prisoner swap – the ninth stage of an exchange process agreed to by the parties in Istanbul – meant that more than 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners had been returned under the agreement. 'For a thousand families, this means the joy of embracing their loved ones again,' Zelenskyy said, adding that many of the prisoners had been in captivity for more than three years. 'It is important that the exchanges are ongoing and our people are coming home,' he said. 'We will continue doing everything possible to ensure that every one of our people returns from captivity.' Drone and missile attacks Following the brief meeting in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine continued their air attacks against each other, with Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory overnight and casualties reported in Russia. Russia launched 103 attack drones and four missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing three people in the Kharkiv region, Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Thursday. More than 10 others were wounded in Cherkasy, including a 9-year-old child, he added. He noted that, just a day earlier, Ukraine's delegation in Istanbul had reiterated its 'proposal for an immediate and full ceasefire'. 'In response, Russian drones struck residential buildings and the Pryvoz market in Odesa, apartment blocks in Cherkasy, energy infrastructure in the Kharkiv region, a university gym in Zaporizhzhia,' he said. 'We will make every effort to ensure that diplomacy works,' he added. 'But it is Russia that must end this war.' Yesterday, at the meeting in Istanbul, the proposal for an immediate and full ceasefire was reiterated to the Russian side. In response, Russian drones struck residential buildings and the Pryvoz market in Odesa, apartment blocks in Cherkasy, energy infrastructure in the Kharkiv… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 24, 2025 In Russia, emergency officials in the Krasnodar region on the Black Sea said debris from a falling drone struck and killed a woman in the Adler district near the resort city of Sochi, while a second woman was seriously injured, the Reuters news agency reported.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Woman 'prepared to go to prison' over abortion protest
A woman who was arrested for taking part in an anti-abortion protest outside of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow has said she is prepared to go to prison over the Docherty, 74, became the first person to be arrested and charged under a new law which creates buffer zones outside Scottish abortion clinics in February. She has rejected a formal warning from the Crown Office - arguing that it was "unjust" - and is waiting to find out what action may now be taken against her. Doctors at the hospital have previously told BBC Scotland that the protests, which have been held outside the hospital for nearly 10 years, were upsetting and intimidating for patients and staff. The law prevents any protests or vigils from taking place within 200m (650ft) of 30 clinics around the country. Anyone who breaks the buffer zones law could be fined up to £10,000 or an unlimited amount in more serious cases. Ms Docherty was arrested close to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow on 19 had been holding a sign that said: "Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want".In her first broadcast interview since the arrest, she said she had "no reason to regret" the told BBC's Scotcast that the arrest was an "alarming" and "surreal" Docherty added: "I don't feel I was breaking the law because I feel this law is an unjust law. "I was just standing with a sign that was stating a fact that coercion is a crime. "I was there to speak with people only if they wanted to speak with me. I wasn't approaching anyone, I wasn't behaving in a manner that was intimidating or harassing anyone." Dr Greg Irwin, a doctor at the QEUH, was pictured confronting a group of protestors in February 2023, saying that they "cause emotional upset to patients, but also to staff members". He added: "One in three women will make use of abortion healthcare, so judgemental protests at the hospital gates have a real and unpleasant effect particularly on these staff members."But they also affect other staff, like myself, who find it infuriating to know that there are protesters outside the hospital intimidating patients on their way in."It's such an unbelievable cruel and unkind thing to do, and it bothers me throughout the protest period." Extending buffer zones The anti-abortion protests are often linked to the 40 Days for Life group - although Ms Docherty denied that she was a member of the US-based organisation. Following her arrest, the Crown Office sent her a letter which contained a formal said the procurator fiscal had decided against bringing Ms Docherty before a court and if she accepted the warning, she would not be prosecuted."I said I wasn't accepting a warning because it's unjust," she said."I would be prepared to go to prison. I have no idea what might happen."I'm waiting to see what's going to develop from having writing back to the procurator fiscal so it's up to them to see what their next step is."The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act came into force last was drawn up by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who said women seeking the procedure were subjected to "totally unacceptable abuse and obstruction" outside is a criminal offence to behave in ways that could influence the decisions of women and staff to access services within the buffer women and staff from entering the clinics or otherwise causing alarm, harassment or distress is also an Mackay said patients and staff had told her that they still have to pass the protestors when attending the QEUH and "shared similar distress to what we heard during the passage of the bill". She added: "I think it's appropriate that we take those concerns seriously and the government take a look at whether an extension is appropriate or not."Ms Docherty denied that she had deliberately sought to be arrested was for publicity, despite it taking place just days after US Vice-President JD Vance highlighted the law as an example of free speech is Europe being "in retreat".When asked about patients or staff feeling intimidated by the protestors, Ms Docherty said: "If they say they feel that way then they must feel that way, I'm not in charge of their feelings."But I know that my intention is not to do that, I'm standing peacefully and quietly."She added: "We know that women have changed their minds because something has given them pause for thought. "If someone is being influenced, it seems to point to the fact that their mind isn't made up."She said that moving to another location further from the hospital would make the group less visible, meaning their "offer of help" was less visible."People say we should go to the Scottish parliament, but that's not where the help is needed," she added.A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: "The procurator fiscal has received a report concerning a 74-year-old in relation to an alleged incident on 19/02/2025."The report remains under the consideration of the procurator fiscal."
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gillian Mackay bids to be Scottish Greens co-leader
Green MSP Gillian Mackay has announced her bid to be co-leader of the party. Mackay, who successfully spearheaded the bill creating buffer zones at abortion clinics, said on social media she believes she can "take the party further and deliver great election results" if elected Harvie, who has been in the role since 2008, previously said he is not standing to continue in the co-leader Lorna Slater, who has been in the job since 2019, is standing again. Scottish Green Party members elect co-leaders every two years, with at least one to be of the leadership contest are expected in said on social media: "At a time when politics is dominated by the egos of men, it is all the more important we have women with big voices and ideas in politics." The Central Scotland MSP successfully brought forward a member's Bill at Holyrood creating buffer zones around abortion clinics, preventing any protests or vigils taking place within 200m (656ft).She said that during four years at Holyrood, she has "shown I can deliver on the causes I champion and bring people together behind them".She added: "I believe I am the person who can not only take the party further and deliver great election results, but deliver fantastic things for Scotland and our communities."US Vice-President JD Vance criticised the bill earlier this year, falsely claiming people who live within safe access zones had been sent letters by the Scottish government warning them about praying within their later said Vance's claims were "total nonsense and dangerous scaremongering."
