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Let us pray to solve crime, say police
By Richard Alleyne
(Filed: 03/08/2006)

A rural police constabulary is calling on the ultimate special constable to help in its fight against crime: God.

Lincolnshire Police officers are launching a Prayer Watch scheme, asking churchgoers to focus their prayers on particular crimes that are blighting their communities, such as burglaries and violent attacks.

The spiritual version of Neighbourhood Watch has been proposed by members of the county branch of the Christian Police Association (CPA).

Under the proposals, churches and Christian groups will receive e-mails from the police alerting them to specific crimes, which they can then use to focus their prayers towards solving or preventing in the future.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman, Dick Holmes, said: "In one sense it is similar to the conventional watch schemes like Neighbourhood Watch and Farm Watch in that it encourages congregations to keep an eye on church buildings. They are prime targets for thieves and vandals.

"Obviously there is the spiritual element, which lets communities know about specific incidents in their area so they can focus their prayers on them if they wish."

Don Axcell, a retired police officer and head of the national CPA, supports the idea that the religious community could have a positive influence on policing.

He said: "I think the scheme is a brilliant idea. If there's a spate of burglaries in an area, let's get people praying for a result. All I'd say to the sceptics is that I've seen prayer work too many times for it to be a coincidence."

"I think the scheme is a brilliant idea. If there's a spate of burglaries in an area, let's get people praying for a result. All I'd say to the sceptics is that I've seen prayer work too many times for it to be a coincidence."

He said: "I think the scheme is a brilliant idea. If there's a spate of burglaries in an area, let's get people praying for a result. All I'd say to the sceptics is that I've seen prayer work too many times for it to be a coincidence."

So now they're using RTTM effect as proof of the existence of God?