Police apologise to Leeds church after disrupting service

Police have apologised in person to a church congregation for disrupting a memorial service earlier this month.

West Yorkshire Police said they were attempting to arrest a man “wanted on recall to prison” when they disrupted the service, which was being held for a “longstanding member of the congregation”, at the New Testament Church of God in Leeds on 13 November.

Bishop Tony Parry said it was “intolerable” that hundreds of people, many from the city’s Afro-Caribbean community and including several children, were “thanking God for the life of their beloved sister” when police entered the building.

Ch Supt Steve Dodds said: “I’m here today to offer a sincere and unreserved apology.”

Mr Parry added: “I do accept the apology. They actually came out the next day to apologise and they [also] sent it in writing to me.

“At that particular time I said what was necessary was for them to apologise to the family, the church and the community.”

Ch Supt Dodds had previously said that the force “deeply regrets the impact this has had on the family, the congregation and the wider community”.

A force spokesperson said a “thorough review” of the incident was taking place.

The church said it was not acceptable that a grieving family and the woman’s friends had been subjected to such behaviour by the force.

One member of the congregation said the incident had undone 40 to 50 years of good work and trust between the community and the church.

Another said: “We are all hurting, and we’ll heal together as a community. We’ll continue to support our police. Because they are our police. They are humans just like us.”