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<p>The Government is clear that it is unacceptable that patients seeking healthcare
advice or staff working in healthcare facilities should feel intimidated or harassed.
This country has a proud history of allowing free speech, but the right to peaceful
protest does not extend to harassment or intimidating behaviour and the law currently
provides protection against such acts.</p><p>The Home Office takes the matter of protesters
outside abortion clinics extremely seriously. That is why we carried out an in-depth
assessment to understand the scale and nature of protests outside abortion clinics
to establish whether more should be done to protect those requiring an abortion. The
previous Home Secretary set out his position on 13 September 2018 through a Written
Ministerial Statement. A link to the statement can be found here: <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-13/HCWS958"
target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-13/HCWS958</a>.</p><p>The
Government recognises the adverse impact that anti-abortion protests can have on patients
and staff, and the Home Office is keeping this important matter under review.</p><p>Officials
regularly liaise with national policing leads to assess if there have been any developments
on protest activities outside abortion clinics. The Home Office would welcome any
new evidence that becomes available on this important issue.</p>
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