A 51-year-old physiotherapist and army veteran has been found guilty of breaching a local abortion buffer zone in Bournemouth, in what has been described as a “thoughtcrime” and “the first conviction of its kind in modern British history”.
Adam Smith-Connor was charged by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council following an interrogation by police on “the nature of his prayers” when he stopped to pray for a few minutes near an abortion facility in November 2022.
Mr Smith-Connor had been praying for his son whom he lost through an abortion that he had paid for.
Yesterday, after a legal battle lasting almost two years, Poole Magistrates’ Court sentenced Smith-Connor to a two-year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay more than £9,000 in costs. This means he will only be sentenced if convicted of further offences in the next two years.
According to the legal advocacy group ADF UK, who represented Smith-Connor, “the court reasoned that his prayer amounted to ‘disapproval of abortion’ because at one point his head was seen slightly bowed and his hands were clasped”.
ADF UK also explained that Smith-Connor did not manifest his prayer through kneeling, speaking, nor holding a sign, and made an effort to be out of the line of sight of the abortion clinic. He also did not engage with any other person.
The Bournemouth Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) prohibits prayer, offers of help, counselling, and other activities that could constitute protest.
Responding to the ruling, Smith-Connor said that “the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – can be illegal in the United Kingdom. That cannot be right”.
“It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thoughtcrimes are now being prosecuted in the UK”, he added.
‘This isn’t 1984’
Despite being on the verge of bankruptcy and having to cut “all non-essential spending”, ADF UK reports that the council spent more than £90,000 on legal fees to prosecute the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of £1,000.
Former MP Miriam Cates said “This isn’t 1984, but 2024 – nobody should be on trial for the mere thoughts they hold in their mind”.
Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for ADF UK, said “This is a legal turning point of immense proportions. A man has been convicted today because of the content of his thoughts – his prayers to God – on the public streets of England”.
“We all influence each other’s decisions all the time – be it through the advice of a parent, the concern of a friend, or the information made available through a charitable volunteer. But the Public Order Act is written so vaguely that these everyday, peaceful, caring conversations could be made illegal on certain streets of England when it comes to discussing abortion”.
“The right to hold a consensual conversation, or engage in silent prayer, are protected by international legal provisions on freedom of thought and speech. Yet the lack of clarity in the law could result in many more citizens like Adam being interrogated or even charged for simply directing silent thoughts towards God”.
“This is a watershed moment for British freedoms, and one the public must not take lightly”, he added.
National buffer zones implemented from 31 October
Smith-Connor’s verdict comes less than a month after the Labour Government announced it would be introducing buffer zones outside abortion clinics nationwide from 31 October 2024, criminalising the offering of a vital support option to women.
Last month, the Home Office announced that abortion buffer zones would be implemented outside abortion clinics across the country from the end of October. The buffer zones are part of the Public Order Act 2023, which became law last year and will operate within 150m of “any part of an abortion clinic or any access point to any building or site that contains an abortion clinic”.
Now, hundreds of women who are helped outside abortion clinics by pro-life volunteers, who provide them with practical support and make it clear to them that they have another option other than going through with the abortion, may be denied such help.
From 31 October 2024, this vital practical support provided by volunteers outside abortion clinics will be removed for women. A Home Office press release states “Anyone found guilty of breaking the law will face an unlimited fine”.
Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 makes “influencing” any person who wants to access an abortion clinic illegal. This vague term has left campaigners concerned that this Bill could make silent prayer illegal as well as consensual communication.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “Smith-Connor has seemingly been found guilty of a crime for the thoughts in his head. While he was in a local abortion buffer zone, there is no law prohibiting presence in a buffer zone. The contents of his mind, though, in the judgement of Poole Magistrates’ Court, are sufficient to constitute a criminal offence. This judgment is deeply disturbing and shortsighted”.
“Hopefully Smith-Connor will be able to appeal this judgement”.
