A British grandmother, arrested for protesting outside an abortion clinic, is raising concerns about potential expansions of “buffer zones” that could further restrict free speech.

Rose Docherty, 74, was taken into custody in February near Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH). Her sign stated: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk if you want.”

Docherty’s arrest marked the first under Scotland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, implemented in September.

This law bans protests or vigils within 200 meters (656 feet) of 30 abortion clinics in Scotland. However, it also allows for potential extensions of the Safe Access Zone.

Docherty’s arrest occurred shortly after concerns were raised regarding the law’s impact on free speech in the U.K.

Gillian Mackay, the Green Party member who championed the buffer zones legislation, has suggested that the Scottish government consider broadening the prohibited area around hospitals to prevent “influence,” according to ADF International, a Christian legal advocacy group.

Docherty has refused a formal warning from the Crown Office, deeming it “unjust,” and awaits further action.

In her first interview since the arrest, she told the BBC that she had “no reason to regret” what happened, calling the experience “alarming” and “surreal.”

She stated that she reviewed the law and believed her actions were compliant.

“I considered my actions…I looked at the law, understood the prohibitions, and decided what I could do…I can offer to listen, available for conversation if desired,” she told .

She is prepared to face imprisonment for her actions.

Docherty contends that the government seeks to eliminate all opposition to abortion.

“I believe the location is irrelevant…regardless of the ‘buffer zone’ size,” she told , a Christian legal advocacy group.

“Even at 201 or 500 meters away, authorities would still attempt to unfairly suppress individuals because of disagreement. This is unjust. Laws against harassment are necessary, and we condemn such behavior. However, simply offering conversation near a hospital is not a crime.”

Dr. Greg Irwin of QEUH confronted a group of protesters in February 2023, stating they “cause emotional upset to patients, but also to staff members,” according to the BBC. Protests had been ongoing outside the hospital for a decade, leading to the Safe Access Zones Act.

Mackay said patients and staff reported continued encounters with protesters near the QEUH, causing distress.

“I believe it’s important to address these concerns seriously, and for the government to assess the need for an extension,” Mackay told the BBC.

A Scottish government spokesperson told the outlet that the act empowers ministers to expand the buffer zone if the existing one is deemed insufficient.

Docherty is not the first person arrested outside abortion facilities.

For instance, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a pro-life activist, was arrested twice in Birmingham for silently praying near an abortion facility within a buffer zone, under a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). She later received $13,000 in compensation for wrongful arrests, according to .

The U.K. has faced scrutiny for its alleged suppression of free speech. Numerous individuals have been investigated and arrested for social media posts.

“`