Faith and police join forces – #FaithAndPoliceTogether

Here at FaithAction, we’re really please to see the launch of a new initiative between the Police and faith communities. Our own Rodie and Heather attended the launch at Parliament on Monday, which was hosted by Holly Lynch MP.

#FaithAndPoliceTogether is a collaboration between a number of faith-based organisations – with a long track record of working alongside the Police – and statutory bodies that support community transformation on police-related priorities. We heard from representatives from different faith groups about their work, impact and needs of their own and wider communities, and from Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Paul Netherton who highlighted the response of faith groups to disasters, including the Grenfell Tower fire. We also heard about some grassroots faith-led projects, including ROC Conversation – who bring communities together to plan ways of meeting their needs – and Bus Oasis – a group in Calderdale that support isolated and young people.

Debra Green OBE, founder and Executive Director of Redeeming Our Communities, comments,

I was delighted to attend the #FaithAndPoliceTogether network event at the Houses of Parliament on April 18th. Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) are members of the network and are passionate to play our part alongside other faith organisations in supporting policing priorities. We are better together.

Paul Blakey MBE, co-founder of #FaithAndPoliceTogether and CEO of Christian Nightlife Initiatives Network, said,

This was an exciting day of gathering together faith, police and political leaders from across the UK to start and continue conversations around working together for the benefit of the wider society. Together we can achieve community transformation and cohesion which will help create communities that all want to be part of.

Lee Russell, Executive Director of the Christian Police Association said,

“It has been really great to be part #FaithAndPoliceTogether and members of our charity’s executive team were so pleased to be able join the launch event. It was exciting to be able to connect with both faith and also police related communities within this exciting project and we look forward to continuing to support this initiative.

To find out more, visit www.faithandpolicetogether.org.uk.