In a case that has raised concerns about freedom of thought, religion and expression, Army veteran Adam Smith-Connor has been at the centre of a controversy for almost two years surrounding his silent prayers within a “buffer zone” for an abortion clinic in Bournemouth, England.
Yesterday he was found guilty. This is a legal turning point in the UK where prayerful thoughts in someone’s mind are considered a criminal offence.
In October 2022, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (“PSPO”) in the vicinity of the BPAS abortion clinic in Ophir Road, Bournemouth. The Order designated a “safe zone” around the clinic, within which it is prohibited to engage in protest related to abortion services and other specified activities.
In November 2022, Smith-Connor was spotted behind a tree on a green in a public space about 50 metres from the entrance of the BPAS abortion clinic. He was approached by Catherine Brookfield, a council officer, and accused of engaging in an act of disapproval of the work of the abortion clinic.
She asked him to move on as he was within the buffer zone and acts of “prayer as disapproval” were prohibited by the Council’s PSPO. He refused as he said he was praying for his deceased son and for the women, men, and children still being impacted by abortion today. He is still haunted by the decision he and his then-partner made to abort their unborn child 24 years ago.
“You are telling me that silent prayer is banned in this area? I’m praying in my mind and not approaching anyone. I’m entitled to pray silently for my dead son in a free country,” he said.
He was warned more than once that he could face further action if he did not leave the buffer zone during their conversation, which, according to The Telegraph, lasted for more than 90 minutes.
On 13 December 2022, he was issued with a £100 fine for breach of conduct and threatened with criminal action if he did not pay it. Smith-Connor did not pay it and launched a legal action against the fine. His lawyers at the Alliance Defending Freedom UK (“ADF UK”) made submissions arguing that the state had no power to restrict thoughts directed towards God.
In July 2023, the police informed Smith-Connor that praying silently was not an offence in England and the council dropped the threat of criminal charges against him. But the fine was still due.
As The Daily Sceptic noted, this army vet had fought in Afghanistan because he believed in the principles of freedom that the UK had championed – democracy, free speech, freedom of religion and freedom of thought.
To pay the fine, he believed, would be complicit with the erosion of these fundamental freedoms secured both in international and domestic law. It simply shouldn’t be illegal to pray anywhere in the UK.
He was taken to court; we assume for non-payment of the fine. On 16 November 2023, Smith-Connor had the first hearing for his case.
In September 2024, Smith-Connor’s trial began, with the prosecution arguing that his known views on abortion and silent prayers relating to it were enough to convict him.
Yesterday, a court found Smith-Connor guilty of silently praying within an abortion centre “buffer zone.”
“The Court sentenced Smith-Connor to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £9,000. A conditional discharge is a type of conviction that means Smith-Connor will only be sentenced if he is convicted of any future offences in the next two years,” ADF UK said.
“In its decision, the court reasoned that his prayer amounted to ‘disapproval of abortion’ because at one point his head was seen slightly bowed and his hands were clasped,” ADF UK said.
Co-director of March for Life UK, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, shared her thoughts on the “guilty” verdict in a Twitter post. “If silent prayer becomes a crime, then we’ve moved into the realm of thought policing as well as discriminating against those with religious beliefs,” she said.
“This should be of concern to each and every person of good will regardless of their faith or even which side of the abortion debate they stand on,” she added.
“Praying for pregnant women and their children isn’t a crime.”
Sources for this article include:
- Authorities back down over silent prayer penalty, ADF UK, 18 July 2023
- UK Drops Threat of Charges for Silent Prayer, Breakpoint Colson Centre, 31 July 2023
- “All I did was pray to God” – Adam CONVICTED today, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) UK
- Trial begins for UK pro-lifer and veteran arrested for silent prayer in censorship zone, Live Action, 23 September 2024
- Guilty: Army Vet convicted for praying silently near abortion facility, ADF UK, 16 October 2024
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