Grandmother in Scotland arrested for second time for holding “here to talk” sign in buffer zone

Image credit: ADF International

A grandmother in Scotland has been arrested for a second time for holding a “here to talk” sign within a buffer zone of an abortion facility, after the charges for her previous arrest were dropped.

In February this year, 74-year-old and grandmother, Rose Docherty, was approached by several police officers and thus arrested for holding a sign that said “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want,” within a buffer zone around Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. She became known as the first person arrested under Scotland’s buffer zone law since it was implemented in September 2024.

News of Ms Docherty’s arrest received backlash, with SPUC’s Editorial Officer, Daniel Frampton calling the law “intolerant” and “intimidating”. Sandra Parda of the Life Institute reiterated this saying that “these exclusion zones laws are indeed intimidating for there is no reason to feel threatened by the presence of an elderly woman offering the chance to have a conversation.”

The US State Department also criticised the arrest and buffer zone law, saying that “freedom of expression needs to be protected. We call on governments, whether in Scotland or around the world, to respect freedom of expression for all.”

However, back in August this year, Ms Docherty had her charges against her dropped after a long battle that had lasted several months.

“This is a victory not just for me, but for everyone in Scotland who believes we should be free to hold a peaceful conversation,” she said in response to the news.

“Coercion can come at the hands of an abusive partner, pressure from parents, friends, or in various different forms. No matter our ideological persuasions, we can all agree that nobody should be pushed into any serious and life-changing decision,” she continued.

“Everyone has the right to a consensual conversation. I simply made myself available for a chat, should anybody like to approach me and speak about any matter on their mind.”

According to the Daily Mail, last Wednesday, 24th September, Ms Docherty was approached, questioned, searched and arrested by four police offices for standing within the same buffer zone and holding the same sign. She has said that despite having had two hip replacements, she was left in a police cell for two hours without a chair. She has been released on bail and is forbidden to not only go into the buffer zone but also a wider area around it.

“Everybody has the right to engage in consensual conversation. I held my sign with love and compassion, inviting anyone who wants to chat, to do so – and stood peacefully, not approaching anyone,” Ms Docherty said, speaking of her arrest. “I should not be treated as a criminal for allowing people to chat to me – lending a listening ear.”

“Conversation is not forbidden on the streets of Glasgow. And yet, this is the second time I have been arrested for doing just that.”

Legal Counsel for ADF, Lorcan Price also said of the arrest, “it’s deeply concerning that Scottish policing resources are being ploughed into arrested and prosecuting a peaceful grandmother offering to speak to people in public, rather than focusing on the problems caused by real crime in Glasgow.”

“This is not a case about harassment, intimidation or violent protect – this is simply a grandmother, who held a sign offering to speak to anyone who would like to engage.”

This is not first such case to happen in the UK. Earlier this year Isabel Vaughan-Spruce has been arrested for a third time for praying silently within a buffer zone around an abortion clinic in Birmingham. This was after she was acquitted and received a payout and apology from the police for her two prior arrests in 2022 and 2023.

Exclusion zones in the UK have been subject to criticism, particularly from the US where Vice President JD Vance called out the buffer zones at the Munich Security conference.

Speaking of the law in Scotland, Vance said: “This last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called safe access zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law. Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thought crime in Britain and across Europe.”

“Free speech, I fear, is in retreat and in the interests of comedy, my friends, but also in the interest of truth,” he added.

According to the Daily Mail, Gillian Mackay, author of the bill, has admitted that the exclusion zone law could also criminalise someone who is praying at home, if they are visible from their window, despite dismissing Vance’s comments as “nonsense”.

In light of Ms Docherty’s second arrest, the US once again have hit out at these exclusion zone laws.

“The arrest of Rose Docherty is another egregious example of the tyrannical suppression of free speech happening across Europe,” the US State Department said to the Telegraph. “When 75-year-old grandmothers are being arrested for standing peacefully and offering conversation, common sense and basic civility are under attack.”

“The United States will always speak out against this violation of fundamental rights.”

As of October 2024, Ireland also have exclusion zones around facilities that provide abortions, claiming that it was necessary to prevent women from experiencing harassment, a claim also used to justify exclusion zones in the UK by those in favour of them. However, this was done despite there being no evidence of harassment and that Garda Commissioner stating that the law was unnecessary as they already have measures in place to deal with any harassment complaints in regards to pro-life vigils.

Sandra Parda of the Life Institute commented, saying: “This is absolutely appalling, but hardly surprising as this is not the first time this has happened to someone in the UK. People have a right to free speech; people have a right to pray in their homes or silently in their heads, and a just and free society has no place for exclusion zones that bans this freedom of expression in public areas.”

“There is nothing wrong or intimidating about an elderly woman who is offering one a chance to talk, and there is nothing wrong with a woman changing her mind on abortion and choosing life for her child.”

“People may claim that these exclusion zones are about preventing harassment and “protecting” women, but the only thing it protects is abortion. They are not there to help women, but to prevent them from having a chance to freely change their mind and engage in an open discussion of their choosing. There is nothing pro-woman or pro-choice about that.”