Overview

• Livia Tossici-Bolt, a retired scientist, faces charges for breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) outside a Bournemouth abortion clinic in 2023.
• The US Department of State has expressed concerns about the UK's buffer zone laws, framing them as a threat to freedom of expression.
• UK officials argue buffer zones are essential to protect patients and staff from harassment and ensure safe access to abortion services.
• Buffer zones were nationally legislated in 2024 under the Public Order Act, following years of local measures addressing harassment at clinics.
• The case has become a flashpoint in US-UK relations, with potential implications for ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.