Met Police Urges London Faith Leaders to Step Up Covid Fight
A top Met officer has fired off a letter to faith leaders across London amid soaring Covid-19 cases.
The message? Thanks for past efforts – but keep pushing your communities to stick to the rules and stay safe.
Faith Communities Praised—and Warned
Commander Catherine Roper from the Met’s Crime Prevention, Inclusion & Engagement Command praised London’s faith sector for showing “enormous strength, compassion and hope” during the pandemic.
“Without them, many Londoners would have felt alone and vulnerable,” she said.
“The majority have made huge sacrifices, shifting to online services to protect their members.”
But Roper also slammed “small pockets” of religious venues breaking rules, risking spreading the virus. Police have stepped in to disperse gatherings at these hotspots.
Strict Rules for Places of Worship
Places of worship can only open for ‘independent prayer’ – no group services or meetings led by religious leaders.
“There must be a risk assessment to manage safety,” Roper stressed.
With religious festivals coming up, the Met is keeping close contact with faith leaders to ensure compliance.
Four-Step Approach: Engage, Explain, Encourage, Enforce
The Met is sticking to its ‘4 Es’ strategy:
- Engage with communities
- Explain Covid regulations
- Encourage adherence
- Enforce rules—but only as a last resort
Strong enforcement action will target those flagrantly ignoring the rules or defying police.
As London battles to contain the virus, the Met is calling on all faith groups to play their part and help keep everyone safe.
