MARIE Stopes acting CEO Jamal Hakim has said a safe access zone system cannot be introduced fast enough, after staff have endured a protest group outside their front gate for the entire duration of Lent.

The protesters on Sayer Street would not speak to Echo News, with an older gentleman in a white hat saying there would be trouble if his picture appeared in the newspaper, despite the fact his protest was taking place in public.

This protest has lasted the extent of Lent, with protesters outside the gates from 7am until 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Marie Stopes director public affairs and external relations Jacqueline O’Brien said the problem of protesters at the Midland branch was not new.

“For many years patients at our clinic in Midland have been intimidated and, at times, harassed, followed and abused by picketers who do not agree with abortion access,” she said.

“We have also had staff subjected to intimidation, harassment and abuse.

“Whatever your views on abortion, it is a safe legal service that roughly 1 in 4 women will need to access at some stage in their lives.

“Picketers outside clinics can be deeply upsetting to people at a time when they are making a very personal decision.”

Marie Stopes acting CEO Jamal Hakim said additional counselling had been offered to staff at the Midland centre, as well as body cameras.

“This is a real health and safety issue not just for our patients but also for our staff, who have been harassed and heckled almost constantly.

“This is the second year in a row we’ve had protesters in Midland and our staff have suffered as a result of these protests.

“We have additional support services for our staff in Perth because of the regular protests.

“We offer them specialised counselling, additional time off when they need to recover and we offer that to their families as well.

“I have to say, we also provide them with safety cameras because of the fear for their personal safety when they’re moving in and out of the clinic, so we provide them with body cameras.”

Mr Hakim said he believed the community would support safe access zone legislation to protect both patients and staff.

“We know the community is very supportive and we welcome the discussion paper.

“Penalties is a matter for the judicial system, it’s not something we would comment on but it is important to take into account in terms of a deterrent.

“150 metres has worked well across Australia, it’s a safe distance and it’s a standard across Australia.”

Echo News was told by the protesters to contact Steven Klomp, as he was the only person allowed to speak on behalf of the small group of protesters.

Mr Klomp, a member of Murdoch University’s Academic Council, is also a state councillor for the Australian Christians Party.

He represents the 40 Day for Life group, and the president of the Right To Life Association of WA.

He said he was sad and disappointed at the announcement of a discussion paper on safe access zone.

“We feel that it is inappropriate for exclusion zones to happen,” he said.

“There has never been anyone who has been unsafe as a result of anything done by the 40 Days for Life group.

“There has never been a situation where anyone has been unsafe as a result of our group.

“We feel that it is the last chance for a mum to actually get some help and advice, and that chance is lost if the exclusion zones come into play.”

He went on to say that allowing Marie Stopes to offer counselling to mothers on abortion was akin to giving a fox keys to the hen-house.

He said he had personally seen mothers distressed to enter Marie Stopes, but denied that it was his group’s presence that would cause this distress.