Police Raid on Westminster Quaker Meeting House Sparks Criticism

Police conducted a raid on the Westminster Quaker Meeting House in central London, prompting widespread criticism. Six women were arrested during the operation but were later released without charge. The incident occurred shortly before 7:15 p.m., when more than 20 uniformed officers, some carrying tasers, forcibly entered the building without ringing the bell first.

The group involved in the meeting was Youth Demand, an activist organization planning protests related to climate change and Gaza. While not formally affiliated with the Quaker movement, the group had rented the meeting house for the evening. One of the arrested women described being grabbed by an officer, turned to face the wall, and placed in handcuffs. She reported being held for over 12 hours without the ability to make a phone call, and her student accommodation was searched during that time.

An elder at the Westminster Quaker Meeting, Mal Woolford, described the raid as “ridiculously heavy-handed.” He noted that not all the women present were affiliated with the activist group, some were simply curious and ended up in handcuffs. Woolford expressed conflicting feelings of outrage and concern for maintaining calm, stating he could only offer tea and drink it in front of the officers without providing any.

Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, condemned the raid as an “aggressive violation of our place of worship.” He emphasized that no one had been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory, highlighting the significance of the event. Parker also pointed to recent legislation that has restricted protest rights, suggesting a broader context for the incident.

Oliver Robertson, head of witness and worship for Quakers in Britain, called for legal reform. He argued that the raid reflects a growing trend of excessive policing under laws enacted by the previous government, now being enforced by the current administration. “This is about the kind of country, the kind of world, we want to live in,” he said, aligning the issue with Quaker values of justice and accountability.

The incident has sparked debate about the balance between public safety and the right to peaceful assembly. Quakers, known for their commitment to peace and social justice, have long advocated for nonviolent resolution of conflicts. Their response to the raid underscores a concern for the protection of religious spaces and the rights of individuals to gather and express their beliefs.

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