Churches Together in England has written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner calling for a meeting and a review following the police raid on Westminster Quaker Meeting House on 27 March. The letter was also sent to the Home Secretary and Mayor of London and expresses deep concern over the forced entry into a place of worship during a peaceful gathering for Gaza and climate justice.
Member churches represent one of the broadest coalitions of Christian traditions in Europe, and they affirm the right to peaceful protest and stand in solidarity with Quakers in upholding human dignity and nonviolence.
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