Police apologise for halting church service on Good Friday

Police officers visited Christ the King Polish Church in Balham, London, on Sunday to apologise for halting a Good Friday service.

The Easter service was broken up midway through by officers because they said worshippers "were clearly not socially distanced".

Worshippers were ordered to leave the building and threatened with £200 fines or even arrest if they failed to provide their details.

At the time, the church said the service had been held in keeping with government Covid-19 guidelines, and that "the police brutally exceeded their powers by issuing their warrant for no good reason, as all government requirements were met". 

On Sunday, Detective Superintendent Andy Wadey and Superintendent Roger Arditti addressed worshippers and admitted officers were in the wrong. 

He said: "The intention of the Met is to protect and support communities in staying safe during the pandemic.

"We know, however, that many people were very upset by what happened on Good Friday and we deeply regret that.

"Since then, there has been significant reflection and learning by me, Roger, our colleagues who work with us locally and also, senior leaders at New Scotland Yard.

"The Metropolitan Police truly wishes to serve and protect you in the very best possible way.

"I truly hope that today marks the start of a renewed, deep and lasting relationship with the parish of Christ the King Balham and also the wider Polish communities."

Churches were allowed to gather for worship during the lockdown, with numbers limited to how many could safely fit in the building following social distancing guidelines. 

Responding to the apology, the Catholic Archbishop of Southwark, said there had been "very fruitful" conversations with the police since the incident and that the church remained committed to "healing" and "collaboration".

"We all share the same desire to move forward in friendship, working together for the common good. We are committed to enabling freedom of worship for everyone, in safe and secure environments," he said. 

Mgr Władysław Wyszowadzki, priest of Christ the King, added, "The interruption of the Good Friday liturgy was very painful for our parish community, but in the spirit of the Gospel, we willingly extend our hand to the representatives of the police authorities in order to further build a deep and lasting relationship between us, based on mutual respect and regard for the rights of worshippers to freely practice their faith." 

News
Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award given to Muslim cleric who praised Bin Laden
Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award given to Muslim cleric who praised Bin Laden

Reform leader Nigel Farage said the decision to award Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi was "astonishing". 

How the new General Synod could move beyond the present disagreement over same-sex relationships
How the new General Synod could move beyond the present disagreement over same-sex relationships

How might the next Synod make progress in the next five years based on a recognition that there are those in the Church of England who hold fundamentally opposed positions on the matter? Is there a way of allowing both sides to achieve what they want? Martin Davie argues that the answer to this question is ‘Yes.’

No part of London should become a free speech, gospel exclusion zone
No part of London should become a free speech, gospel exclusion zone

Soho is not exempt from freedom of speech and Christian expression. And Christians do not lose their fundamental freedoms when they cross an invisible boundary into a neighbourhood associated with a different worldview. The streets of London belong to all of us, writes Andrea Williams.

Church of England blessing same-sex relationships 'a bridge too far'
Church of England blessing same-sex relationships 'a bridge too far'

Earlier this year the Church silenced a group of former-homosexuals who wanted to tell of the change in their lives.