Police ‘absolutely clarified’ that church event was not allowed
GROUP HAD BEEN WARNED BEFORE £10,000 FINE WAS ISSUED FOR PUB CAR PARK SERVICE
RESIDENTS have voiced their shock after police officers descended on a street church event held in a pub car park over the weekend.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it had issued a £10,000 fine to the organiser of the event, which was held in the Top House pub car park in Bardney Drive, Bulwell.
Officers first attended the event at around 12.15pm on Saturday after the force issued previous warnings to organisers about hosting events during the lockdown.
Around 30 people attended the event and local residents say they heard music being played from a sound system.
Three tents had been set up and food was also being served.
Bill Simpson, who has lived opposite the pub for the past 20 years, told the Post: “I think it was daft. In the current climate everyone knows you cannot congregate.
“We saw the police vans pull up. There were three tents, one was set aside for seating and one was a stage or a platform. There was a microphone and an amplifier. I am in favour of these fines. I am a bit shocked.”
Debbie Rhodes, a resident of 13 years, said: “I was out in my garden with the dogs and I heard music.
“We are obviously finding it all difficult. Rules are rules. If I cannot have my family round in my garden for emotional support, this shouldn’t be happening.”
The organiser of the street church event, Pastor Chez Dyer, 47, vowed to fight the fine. She says worshippers attend a car park for a church service in their vehicles before being fed outdoors. The services also help to feed the homeless.
The pastor and other people in attendance at the event cited what they described as “unclear” Government guidelines, claiming it was a legal place of worship.
They also claim that, under guidelines for feeding the homeless during the pandemic, there was no breach of lockdown rules.
She added: “It’s disappointing receiving the fine but I will be contesting it and going the whole way with it.
“My biggest concern is the effect it’s going to have on the service and the people we have coming to us regularly.” Speaking of the incident, Inspector James Walker, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Over the past few weeks we have been advising this group, having been made aware of events they have held in Bulwell. “Initially, we have been engaging, explaining and encouraging as to the importance of following the current national lockdown restrictions, which is to protect the NHS, save lives and keep people safe.
“This has been our immediate approach throughout the coronavirus pandemic and will continue to be.
“Over the last week in particular, we have absolutely clarified that these events are not allowed, and we have since made it explicitly clear that while we wholeheartedly support the religious groups that can be found in our communities, there are certain restrictions that must be adhered to in order to keep people safe.
“While the rules state you can attend places of worship, this car park is evidently not a place of worship and, despite the warnings given over the last week in particular, this event continued to go ahead and that is why we have implemented our last resort of enforcement.”
This car park is evidently not a place of worship.
Inspector James Walker