Churches Together in Greater Bristol (T4B) has backed its umbrella body in expressing dismay at the police raid on Westminster Quaker Meeting House in late March.

This follows a surge of interfaith support that gained further momentum in May as more churches express their concern about the police raid on a peaceful gathering at Westminster Quaker Meeting House. An open letter supported by 20 UK faith organisations – which include representatives of the Methodist, United Reformed and Baptist Churches – called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 19 May to establish a review following the police raid.

Six young people who had hired a room at the Quaker Meeting House to discuss a public protest about climate change and the critical situation in Gaza were arrested by police carrying tasers. The building was searched and those arrested were released shortly afterwards.

T4B is affiliated to Churches Together in England, which announced on 10 April that its 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.” Churches Together in England is an ecumenical body that brings together churches of many different denominations.

The general secretary of Churches Together in England, Bishop Mike Royal, sent an open letter to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in April calling for a review and meeting following the police raid. The organisation also sent copies to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan and hopes that a review will prevent this kind of incident happening again.

The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), which released the announcement on 19 May that was also signed by Churches Together for England, said a Meeting for Worship had also taken place recently at New Scotland Yard and attended by 300 people.

The JPIT said faith organisations were “deeply concerned to see such a heavy-handed and disproportionate action at a place of worship.” It noted that churches believe the raid was enabled by laws introduced in recent years that were being used to suppress nonviolent protests. They would like to see Starmer’s government commit to protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly.

Many church groups have also called for an investigation into the raid, including a review of its legal basis and proportionality.

Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, stated after the raid that this violation of a place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group “clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest”.
 

_{Posted: May 2025}