Livia Tossici-Bolt, 64, has spoken out following her conviction for breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone, arguing that freedom of expression in the UK is in a “state of crisis.” Tossici-Bolt, leader of the Bournemouth branch of the anti-abortion group “40 Days for Life,” was found guilty at Poole Magistrates Court of two offenses related to violating the Public Spaces Protection Order in March 2023.
Tossici-Bolt had been holding a sign outside a clinic in Bournemouth that read, “Here to talk, if you want,” which the court determined violated the buffer zone designed to protect patients and staff from protestors. As a result, she was handed a two-year conditional discharge, a £20,000 court costs bill, and a £26 victim surcharge.
In response to her conviction, Tossici-Bolt expressed concerns over the impact of such rulings on the right to freely express views, particularly in relation to controversial topics like abortion.
