Welcome to the CJAG Prayer Guide for October.
The Diocese of Worcester hosts a group whose focus is criminal justice. The group offers a faith perspective on criminal justice matters and raises awareness of the issues. CJAG offers this bi-monthly prayer guide which we hope will be useful for personal and intercessory prayer in local parishes. Do pass it on to those in your church who would be interested and encourage its use [If anyone would like to receive a direct copy then please email diana@fulbrook.co.uk].
Challenges facing the Police
The area covered by the Diocese of Worcester is served by two police forces, West Mercia Police and West Midlands Police. Though they face different contexts – one largely urban, the other rural – the challenges are similar, with the foundational purpose of keeping people safe, protecting life and property, and investigating and prosecuting crime. Whilst traditional community and response policing remains central, there are always new developments in technology and the crime that goes with it, which require new responses in policing, including digital and cyber crime. The police are often seen as the agency of ‘first’ resort. If in doubt, phone the police. Close working with partner agencies is essential, and a lot of effort is put into developing proactive and effective partnerships. All this is very stressful. As chaplain to West Mercia Police I am acutely aware of the constant pressure that falls on officers and staff, of all ranks and responsibilities, and the personal cost of this on families and relationships. This is compounded by two sets of current circumstances common to all forces.
Firstly, the need constantly to do more with overstretched resources. West Mercia recently announced steps to close budget gaps through reorganisation and police staff number reductions. This brings its own level of stress. Secondly the need to respond to public disorder and protest, taking into account recent changes that have placed police at the forefront of political protest. For example, protests in Westminster, that led to mass arrests under anti-terrorist laws, included officers from all over the country, including from the West Midlands region, under mutual aid (where forces request aid from other forces). Officers from both West Merica and West Midlands also were sent to help with the large rally on Sept 13th, where violence led to 26 officers from the Met Police being injured, four seriously. One Sergeant from West Mercia described it to me as utter chaos, and was himself thankful to come out of it unscathed.
Almighty God, who through Jesus has reconciled all things to yourself, and established your Kingdom of justice and peace; we pray for all who work within the police, officers and staff:
for diligence in protecting the vulnerable and innocent, and seeking justice for all;
for courage and safety when danger has to be faced;
for care and compassion for each other in the shared task of policing;
that our communities may be places of safety, peace and tolerance.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our saviour.
Amen.
Especially we pray for:
- Police officers and staff, in their daily duties, for safety and integrity in all things
- Those dealing with budget pressure, especially those whose jobs are being made redundant
- Senior officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) as they make difficult decisions in order to balance books; and for wisdom and understanding in the difficult job of leadership in the police
- Officers and staff who experience stress, or who are injured in the course of duty, for healing and new confidence, and for their families as they are themselves impacted
- New officers, undertaking university study alongside their duties, as they adjust to work in the police
- Victims of crime, whose first encounter with the criminal justice system is usually the police, that they may feel supported, listened to and receive justice
- Police chaplains, who are mostly volunteers, from a wide range of faith traditions, and lead chaplains Khadeja Sulaiman (West Midlands), and Dick Johnson (West Mercia)
- Prisons Week (Oct 12th – 18th), week of prayer, and for those taking part in the morning service in the Cathedral on October 12th at 10:30, preacher Prison Chaplain Lesley Nicholson.
