Ongoing support for Quakers after Westminster police raid

The letter complained that ‘into a community space deeply committed to non-violence and pacifism, officers armed with tasers entered to control and intimidate’, showing ‘unnecessary force toward a meet-up for people exploring non-violent social action’.

A group of various denominational West End church leaders wrote a joint letter to the government and Mayor of London expressing grave concerns over a recent police raid on Westminster’s Quaker Meeting House.

Signatories included Fr Dominic Robinson, parish priest of Farm Street Catholic Church and Chair of Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace Commission, and Rev Dr Simon Woodman, Minister at Bloomsbury Baptist Church.

Metropolitan Police officers broke into the Quaker Meeting House on St Martin’s Lane on 27 March and arrested six people discussing climate action and peace in Gaza.

The letter complained that “into a community space deeply committed to non-violence and pacifism, officers armed with tasers entered to control and intimidate”, showing “unnecessary force toward a meet-up for people exploring non-violent social action”.

The church leaders highlighted that their church buildings, like the Quaker Meeting House, host a variety of activities including worship, meals for those in need, mental health counselling, classes, community group meetings and commercial hires: “We also host, whether as a part of our expression of faith or an act of hospitality, conversations and meetings on issues of social justice and global concerns.”

They asked for condemnation of the police action and reassurance that “clear measures will be taken to ensure there are no future incidents of disproportionate and inappropriate police responses in places of worship and community centres”.

Following the police raid, a silent Quaker Meeting was held outside New Scotland Yard on 3 April involving hundreds of Quakers, politicians and supporters standing in silence for 40 minutes.

The meeting was organised by Quaker Support for Climate Action “to uphold our worshipping community and support all who speak up for truth and integrity in the face of increasing state oppression”. Around 25 other silent Quaker meetings were held nationwide and online.

MP Luke Taylor raised the issue during urgent questions in the House of Commons on 31 March after the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, addressed it on the BBC a day previous. The responses framed the raid as an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police.

Quakers are among those who have been calling for the repeal of the 2023 Public Order Act and sections of the 2022 Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Act. Under these laws, the right to protest has been severely restricted and discussing peaceful protest can be criminalised.

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