Police apologise to Catholic woman six months after arrest for silent prayer
The police have finally apologised to Catholic woman arrested for praying silently outside a closed abortion clinic in Birmingham.
Following a six-month investigation, West Midlands Police have confirmed that they will not bring charges against Isabel Vaughan-Spruce.
The police told her that “there will be no further investigation into the alleged matter, and there will be no further action taken”.
They have also said sorry to her for the length of time taken to reach the decision not to prosecute her for silent prayer.
Ms Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for praying in a “buffer zone” surrounding an abortion facility on Station Road, Birmingham, in March.
It was the second time in four months she had been arrested and it came weeks after a judge in Birmingham dismissed the first case brought against her.
The censorship zone, introduced by local authorities via a “Public Spaces Protection Order,” bans prayer among other activities considered to constitute protest against abortion.
The arrest caught worldwide attention when police accused the charitable volunteer of committing an offence by silently praying in her own mind.
In a video which went viral, an officer is heard telling Ms Vaughan-Spruce: “You’ve said you’ve been engaging in prayer, which is the offence”.
ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT / DEEP CALLS TO DEEP 