On 10 May 2022 The Times ran a story “Police ‘should use public order laws at clinic vigils'” The story reported calls by Monica Lennon MSP to use existing Police powers at vigils. The Times illustrated their story with this picture:

Assessment

The picture shows a line of 6 people holding signs which say “Love Them Both”, a pro-life slogan.

The picture is credited to ALAMY, a stock photography company. The Times’ caption does not describe or locate the picture but says: “A private member’s bill has been put forward to create buffer zones barring activists from approaching abortion clinics”

On 23 April 2022, SPUC Scotland, held a ‘Pro-Life Chain’ in front of the Sheraton Hotel, on Lothian Road, Edinburgh. Watch it on SPUC’s YouTube channel. Lothian Road is a main route in Edinburgh but is not located near any abortion clinics or hospitals.

In front of the Sheraton hotel is a well known sculpture: ‘African Woman and Child’

The African Woman and Child statue and the man in the blue shirt can be seen in both The Times’ ‘clinic’ photo and the picture of SPUC’s Pro-Life chain on Lothian Road:

Conclusion: MISLEADING

The Times’ picture did not illustrate a ‘clinic vigil’ and the location was not near an abortion clinic or hospital. The Time’s headline refering to “abortion clinic vigils” and the failure to correctly identify the photograph could be confusing and readers may think the photo is of a pro-life clinic vigil.

The Times picture is therefore rated as MISLEADING