Back Off is a 2014 campaign launched by the English abortion provider, BPAS. The campaign wants to create new, national, laws to ban all activity, including prayer, in designated areas.

In England 3 Local Councils have used PSPO legislation to create “buffer zones.” The first was in Ealing, West London. The campaign has not been successful in its aim for a national law.

In 2018 the UK Home Office published a call for evidence and received over 2,500 responses. After analysis the Home Secretary provided a Written Statement to Parliament:

“Having considered the evidence of the review, I have therefore reached the conclusion that introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response, considering the experiences of the majority of hospitals and clinics, and considering that the majority of activities are more passive in nature”

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2018-09-13/HCWS958

In Scotland, almost all abortions are provided directly by NHS Scotland Health Boards, rather than private providers, such as BPAS.

In Edinburgh, in 2020, students created a ‘Back Off Chalmers’ group which subsequently became ‘Back Off Scotland.’ The student group is co-ordinated by BPAS

In Northern Ireland, BPAS supported the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill which was passed by the Northern Irish Assembly in March, 2022.