PROTESTS outside abortion clinics in Scotland should be banned under new laws to protect women from intimidation and harassment, a Scottish government committee has decided.

Holyrood’s health, social care and sport committee supported a Bill proposing the creation of “buffer zones” around clinics in which anti-abortion protests would be prohibited.

The proposals are contained in an Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill put forward by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay.