North East abortions: Campaigners warn against hostility to women

Women’s rights are under global scrutiny after the USA’s Supreme Court ruled that abortion is no longer protected under the country’s constitution.

In more than half of the states across America, abortion is now banned or under serious threat.

Read more: Abortion in England, where women can still face prison

Were a similar ban to be implemented in England, thousands of women a year in the North East could be affected, according to Northern Echo analysis of the Government’s latest abortion statistics.

In 2021, more than 8,600 women terminated their pregnancies – up 8 percent on the year before.

Abortion rates in England and Wales reached record levels last year, when around 17 were carried out for every 1,000 women in our region.

But providers and campaigners say the developments in America have sparked a significant increase in hostility and intimidation towards those seeking and providing abortion here.

The Echo understands little evidence of anti-abortion protest has been identified by NHS providers in the North East.

However, an escalation nationally has been accompanied by a rise in intensity, according to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and MSI Reproductive Services – formerly Marie Stopes International.

Read more: 'I thought I'd be damned' - one woman's abortion experience

Spokespeople for the organisations said harassment and intimidation outside abortion clinics has worsened in recent months, with some local authorities introducing buffer zones to protect women and staff from hostile protestors.

MSI’s UK medical director, Jonathan Lord, said: “We hear heart-breaking stories from women who are genuinely traumatised by the experience of walking past anti-abortion groups to access a perfectly routine and legal medical service – a service which one in three women will choose at some point in their life.”

She added: “The bullying and harassment of women seeking healthcare should be outlawed in a civil society – if the desire is to protest, this should be done away from clinics and hospitals.”

A Home Office spokesman said police and local authorities would be expected to act in light of ‘harmful protests’.

In some areas of England, Public Space Protection Orders have been used by councils to create ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics.

The Echo asked North East councils if they had implemented, or planned to implement, similar buffer zones.

Spokespeople for authorities in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Durham said none were currently planned.

Amanda Healy, Durham County Council’s director of public health, said: “Although we have not been made aware of any particular concerns in County Durham, we continue to work closely with our colleagues in the NHS to monitor this situation.

“Should any concerns arise, we will review any possible measures which could be introduced.”

The Government is monitoring the prevalence of anti-abortion protests nationally, with the issue of buffer zones under review.

The Home Office spokesman added: “The right to protest is a vital part of a democratic society, but it is completely unacceptable that women accessing healthcare services should feel harassed or intimidated.”

Almost all abortions legally carried out in the region last year were NHS funded, with most pregnancies – 86 percent - terminated at under 10 weeks gestation.

Just 6 percent happened after the 13th week of pregnancy and the largest proportion were provided to women aged between 20 and 24.

Middlesbrough has among the highest abortion rates in the country – and the highest for those involving under-18s.

Meanwhile, York and County Durham have some of the lowest rates in England and Wales.

For support and advice, visit msichoices.org.uk or bpas.org.