Dr Livia Tossici-Bolt has been convicted for breaching a “buffer zone” by standing silently with a sign near an abortion facility in the British city of Bournemouth.

Dr Tossici-Bolt, a former medical scientist, was holding a sign that said, “Here if you need to talk”, an idea she took from the internet during the lockdown period after seeing videos of people holding signs that said “free hugs” and other types of social engagement.

She faced trial on March 5 and 6 following charges of breaching the “buffer zone” surrounding the facility and was found guilty on April 4.

The “buffer zone” prohibits “harassment,” “intimidation,” and “engaging in an act of approval or disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services”.

Livia had previously had other positive exchanges with a diverse range of individuals who stopped to discuss matters close to their hearts, such as students sharing insights about their education and parents chatting about their kids.

She told ADF International that she firmly believes nobody should intimidate, harass, or condemn others, but that people should be free to offer a listening ear. 

Despite this, Bournemouth Council officials issued Livia a fixed penalty notice, accusing her of breaching the “buffer zone”.

Livia declined to pay the penalty believing that she did not breach the terms of the Public Space Protection Order and has the right, protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, to offer consensual conversations.

Instead, she was put on trial at Poole Magistrates Court and found guilty, with the court ordering Livia to pay prosecution costs of £20,000.

Dr Tossici-Bolt is being supported in her legal defence by ADF UK.

Livia’s story is one of a growing number of examples coming out of the UK and around the world where people are fined or convicted for praying or holding signs near abortion clinics.

The case has also drawn the attention of the Trump administration. 

A social media post by the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor on Sunday said: “U.S.-UK relations share a mutual respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. However, as Vice President Vance has said, we are concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom.”

“We are monitoring her case,” the department said, adding: “It is important that the UK respect and protect freedom of expression.”

Similar “buffer zone” laws exist in Australian jurisdictions.

In 2019, the High Court of Australia upheld the “constitutional validity of safe access zone laws in Victoria and Tasmania”, in particular, “provisions that prohibit certain communications and protests about abortion within 150 metres of abortion clinics”.

HRLA is committed to defending the right to free expression in Australia.