This is the Reclaim Rosslyn Road webpage - we are a group of local residents concerned about the harrassment and intimidation of clients and staff at the BPAS Clinic that we see on our doorstep every day.
*** UPDATE July 2026 ***
We are pleased to confirm that national Safe Access Zones are now in force across the whole of the UK, meaning the protection originally secured for Rosslyn Road through the local PSPO is now backed by national legislation.
In England and Wales, Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 came into effect on 31 October 2024, making it a criminal offence to interfere with, harass, or intimidate anyone within 150 metres of an abortion clinic. Scotland has its own equivalent legislation (the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024) with 200-metre zones, and Northern Ireland's 100-metre zones have been in place since 2023.
This means that the BPAS clinic on Rosslyn Road — and every other abortion clinic in the country — now benefits from permanent, statutory protection rather than relying solely on locally-renewed PSPOs. The years of campaigning by groups like ours, alongside national organisations, have resulted in lasting legal change.
Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign. While we hope the need for local activism on this issue is now behind us, we remain watchful and will update this page if there are any changes to the law.
*** UPDATE Jan 2024 ***
Home Office legislation is due to come into force in Spring 2024 which would prevent protesters from harassing women within 150m of any clinic offering abortion services. We continue to follow these plans closely to understand what they mean for the clinic on Rosslyn Road.
*** UPDATE April 2022 ***
The PSPO which created the buffer zone around the Rosslyn clinic was renews in 2022 for a further 3 years however we are hopeful that this will be the last time it needs to be renewed as the Home Office has announced legislation will be implemented to protect clients at all clinics nationally by 2024.
*** UPDATE Jan 2021 ***
The Buffer Zone around the clinic has been in place since April 2019 and will be reviewed after three years. This will mean another consultation will be undertaken to review the impact of the PSPO. We will be in touch with our supporters when the consultation is launched.
*** UPDATE Sept 2018 ***
The Home Office consultation has now closed. BPAS report over 1,500 submissions via their website alone, so thank you to everyone who contributed. The Home Office issued a statement in Sept 2018 with the very disappointing news that national legistlation for buffer zones will not be introduced which leaves us the only option to pursue a Public Space Protection Order through Richmond Council.
We want to Reclaim Rosslyn Road, while respecting the protesters' right to express their views. If you support us, please let us know your email address here so we can keep you up to date.
BPAS Clinic, 15 Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham
If you would like to contact us, email reclaimrosslyn@gmail.com
*London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, UK