Anti-abortion OAP Rose Docherty may sue police for buffer zone arrest

Published: 22:33, 22 May 2026 | Updated: 22:33, 22 May 2026 The anti-abortion campaigner who was hauled in front of a sheriff for standing outside a hospital is considering suing Police Scotland after she was cleared of breaking buffer zone laws. Rose Docherty, 75, was the first person charged under controversial laws which ban protests within 650ft of abortion clinics. The grandmother was dragged through the courts for her protest outside Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, but last month the case was thrown out. Now the campaigner is considering suing Police Scotland as she and her lawyers wrangle with what steps they should take. Mrs Docherty said: ‘Peaceful expression, which is protected by national and international law, can never be a crime. The authorities should learn from their failed attempts to censor me. ‘I am now consulting with my legal team and considering what actions are necessary, including legal action, to ensure the authorities are not able to repeatedly arrest, imprison and prosecute me for peacefully exercising my right to free speech.’ She has been arrested twice for breaking laws which ban the intimidation and ‘influencing’ of anyone trying to access abortion services. They came after she stood near the troubled super hospital while holding a sign which read: ‘Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want’. She did not approach or speak to anyone about abortion. Rose Docherty, 75, was the first person charged under abortion clinic buffer zone laws  After Mrs Docherty’s first arrest in February 2025, prosecutors backed down and discontinued their action, but she was then charged with two counts of breaking the new laws after a second protest in September. After her arrest she was held in custody for several hours, and said she was refused a chair to sit on despite making it known she had a double hip replacement. Last month the charges were dismissed by Sheriff Stuart Reid. The Crown Office have not appealed the court outcome, a decision which Mrs Docherty said ‘reinforces that offering consensual conversation is not a crime on any public street in Scotland’. The potential action against Police Scotland is expected to concern the nature of her arrest and the interference with her right to free speech. The controversial 2024 law has raised eyebrows, including those of US Vice President JD Vance. Jeremiah Igunnubole, lawyer at the group ADF International which is supporting her, said: ‘Although Rose has been vindicated, she should never have been arrested.’ The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said it ‘notes the decision of the court and will consider it carefully’. A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We take the health and safety of those who come into our custody seriously.’ A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'We take the health and safety of those who come into our custody seriously. 'Everyone goes through a detailed vulnerability assessment and is asked questions about their health and any individual needs to ensure they are provided with facilities they may require.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.