Safe Access Zones To Be Introduced From 29 September

The Department of Health (DoH) has announced that Safe Access Zones will be introduced at five health service locations across Northern Ireland on Friday, 29 September, 2023.

The Safe Access Zones aims to protect women and girls accessing abortion services, information, advice and counselling, and protect staff working at these locations. From this Friday, it will be illegal to impede, record, influence or harass, alarm or distress anyone accessing these services within the Zones.

Under the legislation, Safe Access Zones can be established in the vicinity of health care premises providing lawful abortions, as well as at premises where information, advice or counselling about abortion services are provided. The Zones will include the protected premises where these services are provided, as well as adjoining public space between 100m-250m from entrances or exits of the protected premises.

Information on the location of each Safe Access Zone will be displayed at all protected premises and published on the Department of Health and HSC Trust websites from 29 September. Public signage will highlight the legal requirements at each Zone.

The Zones will only apply to the strictly designated public space areas. They do not apply to private properties.

Welcoming the news, Alliance Party MLA, Paula Bradshaw, said: "I sat on the former Health Committee that scrutinised this Bill and having heard all the evidence presented to us, I am delighted to see this date finally arrive.

"We heard many harrowing and deeply troubling stories from women, their loved ones and healthcare providers themselves who had to run the gauntlet in trying to access the health care facilities.

"Let's hope the introduction of these zones will send a strong signal that intimidating and intrusive behaviour is not acceptable by society and will not be tolerated under the law."