London police express “deep regret” for Easter raid of Polish church over Covid violations

London’s Metropolitan Police have expressed “deep regret” for causing “upset” by raiding and closing down a Good Friday service at a Polish church earlier this month. They had deemed it to be in violation of coronavirus restrictions, but the church lodged a complaint.

On 2 April, police interrupted the service at Christ the King Polish Catholic Church in Balham, south London, with the entire incident caught on film.

A priest told the congregation in Polish that he “did not understand” which restrictions were being breached, given that the service was conducted in masks, with social distancing rules and admission tickets.

The officers were then invited to address the congregation, and told them that the gathering was “unfortunately unlawful” under coronavirus regulations, which prohibited “meeting inside with this many people”. They then asked worshippers to “leave the building” under pain of a £200 fine.

In a later statement, the police explained that not everyone had worn masks or been socially distanced. The parish, however, maintained that rules had been obeyed and lodged a complaint with Scotland Yard.

“Public worship is permissible where COVID hygiene procedures are in place and national guidance has been issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales,” said the Southwark archdiocese in a statement.

English lockdown rules permit communal worship with limits “decided on the basis of the capacity of the place of worship following an assessment of risk”.

In a statement issued yesterday, the church said that “a process of reflection has taken place”, which resulted in the “commitment” of both the church and the police to “healing through renewed collaboration and engagement in a spirit of friendship”.

It followed an address to the congregation by Roger Arditti and Andy Wadey of the Metropolitan Police Service, who are responsible for the local neighbourhood policing team, after morning mass on 11 April.

“We know that many people were very upset by what happened on Good Friday and we deeply regret that,” said Wadey at the service, explaining that policing coronavirus restrictions was “challenging”.

“Since then, there has been significant reflection and learning,” said Wadey. “I truly hope that today marks the start of a renewed deep and lasting relationship, with the Parish of Christ the King, Balham and also the wider Polish communities,” he said.

An address was also given by the archbishop of Southwark, John Wilson, as well as a reading of a letter from Stefan Wylężek, rector of the Polish Catholic Mission for England and Wales. Poland’s Ambassador to the UK, Arkady Rzegocki, said he was “pleased to learn” of the reconciliation and commitment to work together.

Judyta Braun, a volunteer linked with the Balham church, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that the community had responded positively to the police’s apology and that she was pleased the complaint by the church had been considered.

Jakub Krupa, a London-based Polish journalist, noted that much clearer distancing measures were in place at the church yesterday than had been the case at Easter.

Main image credit: Andrzej Fryzicki/Youtube “Polish RC Church raided in Balham by Met”

Maria Wilczek

Maria Wilczek is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She is a regular writer for The Times, The Economist and Al Jazeera English, and has also featured in Foreign Policy, Politico Europe, The Spectator and Gazeta Wyborcza.