This section is concerned with the allegations of a Christian, Lu Skerratt-Love, a Trustee of St Mark's Church, Sheffield, employed in the Research Unit of the Church Army, and the action of Police Sergeant Simon Kirkham in response to the allegations. Simon Kirkham is a member of the Christian Police Association, South Yorkshire. Further information on the Christian Police Association below.
I provide essential background information concerning a previous visit by a member of South Yorkshire Police. It gives the context for the visit by two members of South Yorkshire Police on 15 February, 2022 and the issue of a 'Community Protection Notice' on that date. It seems very likely that the decision to issue the document was made by Police Sergeant Kirkham. If I'm able to to confirm that it was Police Sergeant Kirkham, as is likely, I think, then I'll be making an official complaint against him. I can readily show that his action was not just unreasonable and disproportionate but far more than that, an action which may well have far-reaching implications.
On 15 February, 2022, two members of South Yorkshire Police - - and - - presented a 'Community Protection Notice - Written Warning, issued on the same day. It contained 'Details of the Conduct:'
'The Police have become aware of you contacting Lu Skerratt-Love via email and hand delivered letters. You have also been contacting her work colleagues via email and letter regarding her. In some of these correspondences you make mention of her personal faith. When you write these emails and letters it causes great upset to Lu and her colleagues at work. This is not fair and certainly not right to do so. It is important that you realise how much you are upsetting / distressing Lu with this conduct. You would not wish for such conduct for your loved ones. We are willing to help in any way.
Fact: Lu Skerratt-Love has received no emails from me. A few people in the Research Unit of the Church Army, her place of employment, have received a single email. This email was a matter of fact email pointing out certain difficulties to do with allotment law, security and safety in allotments near to my own allotments on the Morley Street Allotment site. Further information below.
I sent an email to her Church Army email address on 8 September, 2021 because I could find no alternative, convenient way of contacting her on matters to do with the proposed garden church. The email never reached her because Tim Ling, the Head of Department had blocked emails from me to Lu Skerratt-Love and all members of the Research Department and, I believe, other departments. For a very short time, he allowed emails from me to him and I sent him a further email but after that, emails to him were blocked.
There were matters I wanted to bring to the attention of Lu Skerratt-Love, Tim Ling and one or two other members of the Research Unit. I did that by means of an 'open letter,' a letter not enclosed in an envelope. This communication was courteous and since then, there has been no futher communication from me.
Background information and context concerning two previous approaches by South Yorkshire Police.
In early October, a police officer from South Yorkshire Police phoned me to inform me that Lu Skerratt-Love had complained about some material on my Website. The officer asked me to remove it. I refused. South Yorkshire Police has absolutely no right to censor Websites in this way. My Website is a very large one, with very high Google rankings for a wide range of search terms. The content isn't abusive or threatening. It contains praise for the police.
On 22 November, 2022 I found a card from - - of South Yorkshire police (I don't provide the name of the member of South Yorkshire Police here but I do provide it in the email which states my intention to make a formal complaint.) I contacted this member and was informed that Lu Skerratt-Love had contacted South Yorkshire Police to complain about me. She had alleged that my emails to her were unwanted and must stop.
I sent an email to - - the member of South Yorkshire Police who had left the card. This is a copy. It includes the content of the email I sent to Lu Skerratt-Love but not received by her - matters to do with such matters as security and safety. A copy of the email sent to .. :
Despite the length of this email, this is simply an outline of my concerns. This is an issue which I've already documented in detail and which will now require further documentation. You write, 'Lucy has contacted us to ask you to stop contacting her as the contact is unwanted, therefore please can I ask that you send no further emails.'
'Lu Skerrat-Love writes:
'On 7 October, XR launched its largest worldwide action. In London
thousands of rebels joined the rebellion for up to two weeks, spurred on by
the need to act now for our climate before it is too late. Myself, and other
members of St Mark's, are just some of those rebels. For us, XR speaks truth
to power, where a strategy of non-violent disruptive civil disobedience is a
way to make effective positive change in order to save this planet from
human destruction. ‘My Christian faith felt central to the call from XR to
‘Act Now’, and I spent much of my time in London with Christian Climate
Action (the Christian 'wing'), praying, taking part in actions, and doing
the daily offices, including Eucharist in front of the police line.
Despite the noise, the clamour, the thousands of arrests [this was a gross exaggeration], the tears, the rain, the fear and the apprehension, it felt like a profoundly holy place. I was shoved, spat at by passers-by, threatened with a night in the cells but kept on, like so many others, joined in union and in partnership that though peaceful action profound change could be made. Christ was present in the mess of it all and with a collective hope (like fresh water) that we were once again renewed in God's call to us, to be stewards of God's creation... And it was good…’
'
Even an outline of my objections to the distortions and evasions and exaggerations of this account would take up far too much space to be included here.
From my email to Lu Skerratt-Love.
Dear Lu Skerratt-Love,
'I write in connection with this post on the St
Marks Website:
'SHEFFIELD FOREST CHURCH – SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER AT 2.30PM
'After a summer break, we’re back! Join us for
Forest Church on the theme of Creation at the Garden Church in Walkley (Walkley
Community Garden, Morley Street S6 2PL) for time to be and
worship in God’s creation. Bring a drink and a snack for after the
service! Our services are intentionally all age and LGBTQ+ affirming, so
whatever stage of life or journey you’re on – you’re so very welcome! For
more information, you can find us on facebook or email sheffield.forest.church@
'I have two allotments on the Morley Street site
in Sheffield. I was dismayed to find that the Forest Church is planning to
hold this event at Morley Street this Saturday.
The plan is disastrously misguided, surely. These are some objections:
'The place where it is planned to hold the event
is rented land. These are Sheffield Council allotments and as such, are
subject to allotment law. The allotments are rented by Lower Walkley
Community Group (LWCG). The group's decision to give permission for the
Forest Church to hold the event was very misguided but I have evidence to
show that throughout, the use of the land by LWCG has been incompetent.
'[You are] seemingly unaware of the legislation applicable to allotments which is intended to protect the safety of the public and the issue of legal liability. Allotments do have hazards, and in the event of injury to a member of the public attending the event at the 'Forest Garden,' there could easily be severe legal consequences.
I decided that a complaint was justifed but I changed my mind. I've practically never complained about anything and I would only ever complain about police action with the utmost reluctance. I have very great admiration for the police, including South Yorkshire Police and very great appreciation for the difficulties they face. I sent this email to the Complaints and iscipline department on 23 November, 2021:
Earlier today, I sent an email to complain about the conduct of Sarah Forsythe of South Yorkshire Police. I'd now like to cancel the complaint. There has been no change in my view of the importance of free expression by email (and other forms of expression) but I recognize that this is something which isn't an everyday aspect of policing. I've every reason to believe that Sarah Forsythe is a very good and conscientious police constable and I've no wish to cause her difficulties. I hope a way can be found to resolve the issues by means other than a complaint.
The issue of the 'Written Warning' can't possibly be overlooked. It raises very important issues to do with policing, not least issues to do with the impartiality of the police. South Yorkshire Police has absolutely no right to interfere with legitimate comment on matters to do with Christian faith and individual Christians.
From the Website of 'The Star,' the Sheffield newspaper:
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/christian-police-association-re-launched-sheffield-470835
Dr Billings and the chief were presented
with specially commissioned South Yorkshire Police crested bibles by
Thomas of Gideons International. Sergeant Simon Kirkham, a Rotherham
police officer, delivered the reading to around 150 colleagues, support
staff and members of the public who enjoyed music from the worship band.
Force Chaplain Reverend Alison Earl delivered a prayer to start the event and Dr Billings, who is a Reverend Canon with the Anglican Church, also addressed the audience.
It seems that Sergeant Kirkham is now based in Sheffield. The Written Warning contains the comment 'In some of these correspondences you make mention of her personal faith'.
If it is confirmed that Sergeant Kirkham did authorize the issuing of
this warning, it has very disturbing implications for freedom of
expression. This issue will call for very thorough and extensive
comment.
The section to the left contains criticism, but not in the least criticism of South Yorkshire Police as a whole. The section below is about my appreciation for the work of the police, including South Yorkshire Police. This is an extract from existing material on another page of the site, the one which discusses the work of Street Pastors, with some additional material:
'So much criticism of police forces in this country seems to me to be unfair, failing to recognize that in organizations which are large and complex, facing a very wide range of problems, in the case of the police, very demanding problems as varied as knife crime and gun crime, sexual abuse and property crime, the difficulties of vulnerable people, and so many others, facing demands from so many members of the public which are impossible to satisfy, it's inevitable that some people - many people - will be left unsatisfied - the familiar, intractable difficulty of finite resources and infinite - or very great - demands.
The police forces have many, many employees, of course, and, human nature being what it is, it's very likely that from time to time a small percentage will make serious mistakes, which are rightly publicized by the media. Sometimes, criticism which should be specific becomes generalized, amounting to a general indictment of the police. It becomes grossly unfair. Honest criticism is one thing but all too often, the strengths of the police forces are overlooked.
A short extract from the Sky News Website:
Cressida Dick resignation: Metropolitan Police Federation says it has 'no faith' in London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The body claims comments made by Mr Khan have "undermined the professional, dedicated and incredibly difficult work of tens of thousands of hard-working and brave police officers from across the capital".
Ken Marsh, chairman of the federation, said the atmosphere among officers was at "rock bottom" following the resignation of
Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick.
Accusing politicians of using "policing and the career of the country's most senior police leader to deflect from their own failings", Mr Marsh said: "This is not a move we take lightly.'
In a role which is particularly important, protection of the public from violent crime, the police forces rarely fail, and in all their other roles, the successes surely outweigh the failures. But I'd want to put it much more strongly than that.
Police officers risk injury and sometimes death. Street Pastors are
overwhelmingly unlikely to be injured
let alone killed on the streets at night, but they are ready to portray
themselves as 'on the front line,' doing a vital job, and more than
that, doing hazardous work.
The site
gives the information that in the year ending March 2021, there were about 37, 000 assaults on police officers in England and Wales. There were 11, 235 cases of 'assaults with injury on a constable.'
An extract which conveys something of the intense difficulties faced by police officers, but not faced by Street Pastors, or not nearly as often. Although Street Pastors may be in close proximity to incidents of aggression, almost always, the aggression isn't aimed at them.
From the Website of the National Police Chiefs' Council
https://www.npcc.police.uk/2017%20FOI/CO/078%2017%20CCC%20April%202017%2006%202%20Spit%20Guards.pdf
'The spit guard is a lightweight mesh garment that is placed over a person’s head to help minimise the risks of communicable diseases (blood borne viruses (BBV)) and injuries associated with a suspect spitting and biting. A Spit Guard will not prevent every injury through spitting or biting, it will not prevent the first instance of spitting. However there are circumstances where a suspect is deliberately spitting saliva and possibly blood, where officers need to be in close proximity to them in order to achieve a lawful objective e.g. searching, preventing self-harm etc where the use of Spit Guard can effectively minimise the risks to officers. Spit Guards cannot prevent the blunt trauma injury from biting, however they can reduce the transfer of bodily fluids in these cases.'
The work of the police calls for a very wide range of skills and personal strengths. Some of the situations they have to deal with call for immense courage, others for tact and sensitivity. I remember very well one instance where I found the response of a member of South Yorkshire Police very, very impressive. I was at the house of some grandparents and their grandchild was there. They'd brought her up in the child's early years but this was much later. There have been psychiatric issues of some severity, and the police officer had been called to help with one of these episodes. The police officer responded with immense skill. His words were ones which seemed to me to be very helpful throughout, ones which would be very likely to lower the emotional tension and in the event achieved this.