Churches call for review and meeting following police raid on place of worship

Source: CTE

Churches Together in England has sent this open letter to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. It has also sent copies to the Home Secretary Rt Hon Yvette Cooper and Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan.

Dear Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley,

Member Churches of Churches Together in England were dismayed to learn of the police raid of the Westminster Quaker Meeting House on 27 March 2025.

Approximately 20 uniformed Police Officers broke into the premises and arrested six young people who had gathered for a publicly advertised meeting about protest against the Gaza crisis and climate justice. All six young people were later released.

A Quaker Elder was present in the building at the time and could have opened the door, which would have avoided damage to the building.

Churches Together in England Member Churches support the principle of the right to peaceful protest and are deeply concerned at this unnecessary forced entry to a place used for worship.

Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, stated: "This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest".

Churches Together in England requests that such an incident is subject to an appropriate review by the police and its accountability structures. We would also welcome a meeting with the Metropolitan Police along with representatives from the Quakers to discuss this matter further, to avoid such an incident happening in a place of worship again.

Yours faithfully

Bishop Mike Royal
General Secretary, Churches Together in England

www.cte.org.uk