Christian scientist charged with breaching abortion buffer zone

Nicola Laver  |  UK & Ireland
Date posted:  14 Apr 2025
Share Add       
Christian scientist charged with breaching abortion buffer zone

Source: ADF UK

A pro-life campaigner’s sign offering pregnant women the chance to talk amounted to intimidation and breached an abortion buffer zone, a magistrates court has concluded.

Livia Tossici-Bolt, a retired scientist and member of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children’s Bournemouth branch was charged after holding up a ‘here to talk if you want’ sign outside an Bournemouth abortion clinic in March 2023. She told a police officer her sign offered conversation to anyone who approached her voluntarily. That officer did not witness Livia intimidating or harassing anyone but asked her to leave the zone and she refused.

The judge at Poole Magistrates Court said case law was clear that behaviour outside abortion clinics can reasonably be interpreted as opposition or disapproval to abortion. She could have chosen a different location. She was convicted of two breaches of the public spaces protection order, given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20,000 in prosecution costs.

Share
< Previous article| UK & Ireland| Next article >
Read more articles on:   abortion
Read more articles by Nicola Laver >>
UK & Ireland
Prison sees three ‘emotional’ baptisms

Prison sees three ‘emotional’ baptisms

Three prisoners have been baptised at HMP Chelmsford after attending weekly Bible studies run by Daylight Christian Prison Trust.“It …

People
New CEO for Global Christian Relief

New CEO for Global Christian Relief

Global Christian Relief (GCR), the relief organisation for persecuted Christians, has appointed Brian Orme as its new chief executive officer. …

Looking for a job?

Browse all our current job adverts

Search

Need to advertise?

We can help you reach Christians across the country.

Find out more