London Police Abruptly Interrupts Easter Service - Church Complains

Case information
Incident date
Country
United Kingdom
Place
London
Categories
  • Government Restrictions
Attack Against
  • Faith
Societal Sphere
  • Governmental
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Other (text field)
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Other (text field)
  • Lawsuit
  • Freedom of Association and Assembly
  • Freedom of Religion
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Time/Place/Location
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • No
Response of Local Authorities
  • Unknown
Symbolic image; not a photograph of the reported incident.Image credit: Richard Masquelier on Unsplash

On charges of violating COVID-19 rules, police in the UK have interrupted up a Good Friday service celebrated at the Roman Catholic Christ the King Church in London. Police also threatened to fine each person sitting in the pews $280. According to the British Independent newspaper, churches are allowed to hold services during the lockdown in England with no limit on the number of parishioners as long as the congregation adheres to social distancing and wears masks. The church rejected the police claims, saying in a statement, "We believe, however, that the police brutally exceeded their powers by issuing their warrant for no good reason, as all government requirements were met."

In the end the police apologized for teh baheviour stressing the fact that they know of the value of religious freedom and the respect for religious rituals and sacred festivities will be a priority for them in the future.

Sources