Home Office delay on abortion clinic buffer zones leaves council to act alone

Manchester extends own measures to prevent women from being harassed after legislation delays

Manchester city council has decided to extend its own measures for preventing women from being harassed when visiting abortion clinics due to delays in government legislation on buffer zones coming into effect.

The Public Order Act, which received royal assent in May, included an amendment which makes it a criminal offence across England and Wales to harass, obstruct or interfere with any woman attending an abortion clinic.