Safe zones outside of abortion clinics in England and Wales will become law by the end of October 2024.

Protests within 150 metres of clinics or hospitals providing abortion services in the two nations will be prohibited.

This is with the aim of ensuring women do not face harassment outside clinics.

The law received royal assent in May 2023 and will officially come into force on Thursday, October 31, as reported by Sky News.

What does the law entail?

Under the Public Order Act, it will make it illegal for a person to do anything deemed to intentionally or recklessly influence someone's decision to use abortion services.

This includes obstructing people or causing harassment or distress to someone using or working at such premises.

It is understood silent prayer could also come within the scope of the law, a move that anti-abortion groups have argued against.

They say doing so would threaten their rights to freedom of expression and religious belief.

Under draft guidance on the law from the previous Conservative government, it appeared that silent prayer would still be allowed within the zones.

However, campaigners, like Heidi Stewart chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said silent prayer needs to be included in the ban "for the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of women accessing healthcare".

Guidance detailing what exactly is covered will be published in the coming weeks by the College of Policing and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

This is to "ensure there is clarity and consistency with the enforcement of the new offence", the Home Office said.

The maximum penalty for anyone convicted is an unlimited fine.

Speaking on the law, safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said: "The right to access abortion services is a fundamental right for women in this country, and no one should feel unsafe when they seek to access this.

"We will not sit back and tolerate harassment, abuse and intimidation as people exercise their legal right to healthcare, which is why we have fast-tracked this measure to get it up and running without further delay.

"For too long abortion clinics have been without these vital protections, and this government is determined to do all we can do to make this country a safer place for women."