The anti-freedom extremism of England's "buffer zone" law has just become even clearer.
A retired medical scientist is being put in the dock in a landmark freedom of speech case after she stood near an abortion clinic holding the sign: 'Here to talk if you want to'.
Livia Tossici-Bolt, 63, is accused of breaching a 'buffer zone' set up in Bournemouth that bans protests and 'expression of approval or disapproval of abortion'.
Ms Tossici-Bolt, who worked at Southampton's University Hospital Trust as a medical researcher, will appear at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on March 6.
She has refused to pay a fixed penalty notice issued by the local council in June 2023 and denies her 'here to talk if you want to' sign was inflammatory and believes her right to freedom of expression is under threat.
Several people approached her to take up her offer of a conversation about matters going on in their lives, Livia claims.
The prosecution is being brought by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council who are seeking to enforce a legal ban on any demonstration within around 500ft of an abortion clinic in England and Wales. They declined to comment.
But Ms Tossici-Bolt insists that holding the sign in the zone, and chatting to people, cannot be a breach.
She said: 'I shouldn't be treated like a criminal just for this. There's nothing wrong with two adults engaging in a consensual conversation on the street'.