Christians pray for the safety of police and emergency services amid riots

With London and other cities in England bracing themselves for another night of violence, the Christian Police Association is offering its prayers for the safety of police officers and emergency services on the frontline.

Multiple parts of the capital have been rocked by rioting as bands of vigilantes marched through the streets, setting cars and buildings on fire, looting from shops, and even attacking cars as they stopped at traffic lights.

Rioters also attacked ambulence crews and fire engines as they responded to call outs, and blocked streets to prevent them from assisting those in need.

The scale of the violence has left many Londoners in shock but also kindled a determination to protect their communities, with some locals rallying together to take on the mobs and defend their properties, and others launching clean-up operations via Facebook and Twitter.

As buildings continue to smoulder, many communities are anticipating a forth night of violence.

Don Axcell, Executive Director of the Christian Police Association, said the events of the past few days had stirred up poignant memories of previous civil disobedience and mass criminality, including the Broadwater Farm riot in Tottenham in 1985, where he was one of the serving frontline officers.

He appealed to Christians to remember the police and emergency services in their prayers as they seek to restore peace to the streets.

“Later there will be much finger-pointing, wringing of hands and many inquiries, but for the present, our hearts go out to the police officers and other emergency service workers who are at the frontline,” he said.

“Those who have been on duty or about to go on duty have no idea what awaits them on the streets and our prayer is that they will be kept safe and given wisdom to deal with each and every situation as they seek to bring peace to our towns and cities.

“We also remember in prayer the loved ones who sit at home and wait, not knowing when a husband, wife, father or mother will return and what shape they will be in.”