Abuse and intimidation reported among hospital protesters
Supporters of Alfie Evans have been asked to respect families and staff at the children’s hospital where the toddler is on life support.
Police are investigating “acts of intimidation” among hospital protesters for Alfie Evans after his parents lost their latest legal battle.
Merseyside Police asked protesters to respect families and staff after “instances of verbal abuse and acts of intimidation”.
Chief Inspector Chris Gibson said officers “recognise the sensitivities involved in this very difficult and sad situation”.
“This is extremely unhelpful for all concerned and we are investigating further to establish the full circumstances.
“We would like to remind the public that this is a hospital for sick children and it should not be forgotten that many families are going through extremely challenging and emotional times.
“We would ask protesters to respect families and staff, including the poorly children in the wards and to ensure that access to the hospital is not restricted at any time, so that services including the blood and ambulance service can run as efficiently as possible.”
He urged any victims of “intimidation or harassment” to report it to the police or hospital.
Alfie’s parents, Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, want to move their son to a hospital in Rome for treatment.
Supreme Court justices might be asked to consider the case for a second time after the couple, who live in Liverpool, used a piece of ancient English common law in their legal battle.
A High Court judge and three Court of Appeal judges have dismissed their claim.
Mr Evans emerged from the hospital two hours after the decision was given by the court in London.
Wiping away tears and visibly shaking he thanked supporters surrounding him and again asked for his son’s life not to be terminated, but let other doctors “look after him”.
He added: “They can’t break us, we are never going to back down.
“Alfie, the family and all of our supporters are stronger than ever and we will keep fighting all the way.
“We will never give up on you Alfie.”
But the couple might make another application to the Supreme Court.
Judges have heard that Alfie, born on May 9 2016, is in a “semi-vegetative state” and has a degenerative neurological condition doctors had not definitively diagnosed.
