Scotland buffer zone slammed after grandmother becomes first person arrested

Image Credit: Screengrab via X

Scotland’s buffer zone law has been slammed as “intolerant” and “intimidating” after a 74-year-old grandmother became the first person arrested and charged in since the law came into effect.

According to SPUC, the woman, Rose Docherty, was standing in a buffer zone around Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, holding a sign that said: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want,” when she was approached by several police officers. She was then charged, handcuffed, and driven away by police, an ordeal that was captured on camera.

Regardless of views on the Act, do we really need 4 police officers to arrest and handcuff a 74 year old woman? https://t.co/NIDTLMP11z

— Christopher McEleny (@ChrisMcEleny) February 20, 2025

The creator of the buffer zone law in Scotland, Gillian Mackay said that she was “grateful to Police Scotland for acting so quickly… This kind of intimidation has no place in a modern or progressive Scotland,” further warning people “to think again, as they will be stopped and there will be consequences”.

However, SPUC have slammed Ms Mackay’s law as “intolerant” and “intimidating”.

“It is Police Scotland, at the behest of Gillian Mackay’s intolerant buffer zones law, which is engaging in intimidating acts; in this instance against a 74-year-old woman,” said SPUC’s Editoral Officer, Daniel Frampton. “Mackay’s disgraceful rhetoric – telling fellow citizens to ‘think again’ or face ‘consequences’ – is not a good look for Scotland. Her buffer zones law appears far more intimidating than an elderly grandmother holding a sign offering help.”

“The shocking scenes yesterday also prove JD Vance’s speech last week to be correct, when he warned that free speech across Europe ‘is in retreat’. Vice-President Vance cited the specific case of Adam Smith-Connor who was arrested for praying silently for his dead son near an abortion facility in England,” he continued. “Free speech and the right to religious expression are under constant attack across the UK, and the targeting of pro-life Christians by the state is also on the rise. Thankfully, people on both sides of the Atlantic are beginning to wake up to the illiberalism and censorious instincts of politicians like Mackay.”

US Vice President JD Vance criticised Europe at the Munich Security conference last week, for the suppression of free speech, particularly mentioning the UK’s buffer zones law, drawing upon the case of Adam Smith-Connor, who was arrested for praying silently in a buffer zone for his unborn child who had been aborted years prior.

Another case that made headlines was that of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested in November 2022 for silently praying in her head within a buffer zone. Despite being acquitted by a court, she was arrested a second time several weeks later for the same reason. Last year she received a £13,000 payout and apology from the UK police as the arrest had breached her human rights.

Exclusion zones have also been introduced in Ireland as of 17th October 2024, despite the Garda Commissioner confirming that there was no need to implement them as the Gardaí were already able to handle any complaints against pro-life vigils. In a press release, Life Institute said that pro-life prayer will continue despite this “undemocratic” law.

Sandra Parda of the Life Institute commented, saying: “We applaud Ms Docherty for her bravery in this fight against the injustice not only on our rights as people, but on the right for a woman to talk and to change her mind on abortion. 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.”

“Abortion is a grave issue, the literal murdering of an innocent unborn child. It is a complete injustice that this is happening. A free society should allow people the opportunity to engaging in discussion on the topic without fear of being arrested or prosecuted for it.”