An anti-abortion protester from Wales has been ordered to pay more than £7,500 after breaching a Ealing Council Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) outside the MSI Reproductive Choices health clinic on Mattock Lane.
The safe zone was first made a PSPO in 2018 and came following concerns about the actions of pro-life and pro-choice protest groups outside the clinic.
Stephen Green, 73, from Carmarthen in Wales, was ordered to pay £7,536.50 in prosecution costs following a judgement at Isleworth Crown Court last week (15 January 2024), which dismissed his appeal against a conviction for failing to comply with a public space protection order.
Mr Green was initially issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice (FPN) in March 2023 for his failure to comply with the PSPO on 6 February 2023.
During his protest Mr Green was seen carrying a sign bearing the religious verse: “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”
After failing to pay the fixed penalty notice, the case was taken to Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court where he was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,426 in costs.
He then appealed the decision on 30 October 2024 at Isleworth Crown Court but the case was dismissed by the judge who ordered Mr Green to pay additional prosecution costs.
Councillor Jasbir Anand, Ealing Council cabinet member for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, said: “We welcome the court’s decision to dismiss Mr Green’s appeal. The Mattock Lane Safe Zone exists to protect women from facing unreasonable interference and intimidation at the point they are accessing services for intensely personal reasons.”
Councillor Anand added: “Whilst we of course respect people’s right to protest, we also respect people’s right to privacy, and the kind of behaviour Mr Green engaged in was totally unacceptable. I hope this result sends a clear message; that any breaches will be taken seriously.”
Louise McCudden, advocacy lead at MSI Reproductive Choices UK, said: “We welcome the news that Stephen Green’s conviction has been upheld. The local safe zone is very important for our clients and our frontline healthcare workers. The zone is there to make sure anyone who needs it can access confidential medical care without being harassed and intimidated by strangers.”
Ms McCudden added: “Every day we are grateful that Ealing Council introduced this protection. At a time when we’re seeing global attempts to roll back reproductive rights, most notably in the United States, it could not be more important to stand up for women and girls.”
 outside the MSI Reproductive Choices health clinic in Ealing.){kind=link}