U.K. Police Drop Charges Against Pro-Life Activist Arrested for Praying Silently Outside Abortion Clinic

At the time, she was charged with “violating a Public Space Protection Order, which prohibits “protesting, namely engaging in any act of approval or disapproval or attempted act of approval or disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services, by any means,” including “graphic, verbal or written means, prayer or counseling” outside the abortion clinic.

Her arrest was also captured on video. The video showed police telling her she was under arrest for standing in front of the clinic silently praying.

Although the charges were dropped, Isabel Vaughn-Spruce, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom U.K., plans to take legal action since it is unclear if she could face future charges.

According to a press release by ADF U.K., Vaughn-Spruce “will continue to await justice as she states her intention to pursue full dismissal of her charges.”

“Given the nature of Vaughan-Spruce’s regular voluntary work in offering charitable support to women in crisis pregnancies near abortion facilities, the discontinuance has left her with significant legal unclarity moving forward, given that CPS made clear that the charges ‘may well start again’ in the near future subject to further evidential review,” the statement reads.

ADF U.K. also posted a video of Vaughn-Spruce recapping her arrest and warned that people of faith are also at risk of being arrested for the same reasons as she was, CBN News reports.

“It can’t be right that I was arrested and made a criminal only for praying in my head on a public street,” she said. “So-called ‘buffer zone legislation’ will result in so many more people like me, doing good and legal activities like offering charitable support to women in crisis pregnancies, or simply praying in their heads, being treated like criminals and even facing court.”

“Many of us need an answer as to whether it’s still lawful to pray silently in our own heads,” she continued. “That’s why I’ll be pursuing a verdict regarding my charges in court.”

Photo courtesy: ©ADF UK, used with permission.

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.