Laws exist to prevent the style of protest used by the controversial pro-life group Abort67, it was confirmed this week.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas said his department had no plans to tighten the law, but appeared to leave the door open to the suggestion that rules could be made clearer in future.

During Tuesday’s debate on the second reading of Dr Alex Allinson’s bill, MHKs from differing sides of the abortion argument united to condemn the provocative tactics employed by the Abort67, which sent protestors to the island and repeatedly displayed graphic images, purporting to show the results of abortions, in public places.

Prior to that debate, Ann Corlett (Douglas West) asked Mr Thomas whether he would bring forward legislation to prevent ’public display of offensive graphic material’.

Mrs Corlett said: ’People have the right to go about their daily business without being subject to graphic, distressing, upsetting images that they cannot avoid because of the manner in which they are displayed.’

Mr Thomas said there were no plans, but added some powers were in place already.

Section 343 of the Criminal Code 1872 makes it a misdemeanour to do anything ’to the disturbance of the public peace, or injurious to public morals or outraging decency’.

The Petty Sessions and Summary Jurisdiction Act 1927 makes it an offence to ’make use of provoking language or behaviour tending to a breach of the peace’.

Mr Thomas added: ’If a prosecution were to be made against a person or persons who were displaying the sort of images described by the member for Douglas Central, then they could well be made under these existing provisions.

’I do recognise the concerns of the questioner and other people. There is a right to freedom of speech and expression, these are recognised under the European Convention on Human Rights but, of course, we should always remember that they are qualified, not absolute rights.’

However, he commented: ’We have got two massive bills coming up in our programme. Officers and politicians have heard the comments and suggestions made today and they can be taken forward in that way.’

Some MHKs praised the police for its policy of alerting the public to the whereabouts of demonstrations and said attempts to ban the protests or to prosecute the campaigners would have given the group a larger platform.

During the subsequent abortion debate, Ralph Peake (Douglas North) indicated he planned to table an amendment that would provide for ’buffer zones’ to prevent such protests taking place near to the hospital or any clinic that provided abortion services. His idea received broad support.

The Abortion Reform Bill passed its second reading stage on Tuesday and will face detailed scrutiny over a number of weeks, at the clauses stage.