UK police fine army veteran for ‘silently praying’ near abortion center

A British army veteran is fighting a citation he was issued last month for silently praying near an abortion center, the second reported case of a British citizen being arrested for silent prayer in two months.

Adam Smith-Connor says he was “silently praying” with his back to an abortion center in Bournemouth, England when he was approached by law enforcement officers who asked him what he was doing.

“Well, I’m praying,” Smith-Conner answered.

An officer notified the man that he was in an area governed by a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), otherwise called a “safe zone” or “censorship zone” 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. This includes but is not limited to graphic, verbal or written means, prayer or counselling.”

PSPOs are laws set by local government councils which regulate public activity to ward off “anti-social behaviour.” 

Smith-Conner replied that he is aware prayer is outlawed in the vicinity.

“Can I ask what is the nature of your prayer today?” the officer asked.

The 49-year-old responded that he was praying for his dead son, who was killed by an abortion Smith-Conner had arranged twenty years prior.

The officer apologized, explaining that they had to follow orders, and issued Smith-Conner a £100 fine.

Smith-Conner is fighting the citation in court with the legal help of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) UK, a British human rights group. 

“22 years ago I drove my ex-girlfriend to a facility and paid for her to have an abortion,” said Smith-Conner in a statement published by ADF UK. “It was a pivotal moment in my life. The consequences of my actions that day came back to grieve me years later, when I realized I had lost my son Jacob to an abortion I had paid for. Recently, I stood outside a similar facility and prayed to God for my son Jacob, for other babies who have lost their lives to abortion, for their grieving families, and for abortion clinic staff.” 

“I would never have imagined being in a position to risk a criminal record for praying silently. In the past, I assisted with abortions in hospital as part of my army medical training, but now I pray for those who perform abortions because I realise how harmful abortion is to women and families, and that every single human life is valuable – no matter how small. Most of all, I’m moved to pray because of what happened to my son, Jacob,” he added.  

The incident comes the month after a British woman was searched and arrested for mentally praying outside a closed abortion facility. The Crown Prosecution Service, which originally charged Isabel Vaughan-Spruce with “protesting and engaging in an act that is intimidating to service users,” dropped the charges last week due to “insufficient evidence” but said they “may well start again” pending further evidence. 

Vaughan-Spruce, however, is pursuing a full dismissal of her charges in court with ADF’s help.