ABORTION rates in Cumbria are rising – and hostility toward those who terminate pregnancies is also increasing, campaigners warn.
Women’s rights are under global scrutiny after the USA’s Supreme Court ruled that abortion is no longer protected under the country’s constitution.
The decision led to abortion bans being resurrected and in more than half of the states across America, abortion is now banned or under serious threat.
Read more: Abortion in England, where women can still face prison
Were a similar ban to be implemented in England, more than 1,000 women a year in Cumbria could be affected, according to News & Star analysis of the Government’s latest abortion statistics.
In 2021, more than 1,200 women terminated their pregnancies – up 12% on the year before.
Protests took place across America in response to legislation changes
Abortion rates in England and Wales reached record levels last year, when 16 were carried out for every 1,000 women in Cumbria.
But providers and campaigners say the developments in America have emboldened anti-abortion sentiment and sparked a significant increase in hostility and intimidation here.
The News & Star understands little evidence of anti-abortion protest has been identified by NHS providers in Cumbria.
Read more: 'I thought I'd be damned' - one woman's experience of abortion
However, an escalation nationally has been accompanied by a rise in intensity, according to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and MSI Reproductive Services – formerly Marie Stopes International.
Spokespeople for the organisations said harassment and intimidation outside abortion clinics has worsened in recent months, with some local authorities introducing buffer zones to protect women and staff from hostile protestors.
MSI’s UK medical director, Jonathan Lord, said: “We hear heart-breaking stories from women who are genuinely traumatised by the experience of walking past anti-abortion groups to access a perfectly routine and legal medical service – a service which one in three women will choose at some point in their life.”
He added: “The bullying and harassment of women seeking healthcare should be outlawed in a civil society – if the desire is to protest, this should be done away from clinics and hospitals.”
The News and Star understands there are currently no plans to introduce buffer zones in Cumbria, with a spokesman for the county’s council saying it is “not clear” if it has the power to do so.
BPAS criticised the Government for 'refusing to act' on calls to introduce national buffer zone legislation.
But, according to the Home Office, police and local authorities have existing powers to take action if 'harmful protests' are staged.
Other councils have used Public Spaces Protection Orders to establish buffer zones.
The Government is monitoring the prevalence of anti-abortion protests nationally, with the issue of buffer zones under review.
The Home Office spokesman added: “The right to protest is a vital part of a democratic society, but it is completely unacceptable that women accessing healthcare services should feel harassed or intimidated.”
Almost all abortions legally carried out in Cumbria last year were NHS funded, with most pregnancies – 88% - terminated at under 10 weeks gestation.
Just 6% happened after the 13th week of pregnancy and the largest proportion were provided to women aged between 20 and 24.
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