How prayer can crack crime
THE power of prayer has helped to catch criminals, increase detection rates and reduce the number of people killed on our roads, according to a senior Devon and Cornwall Police officer.
Inspector Roger Bartlett, a staff officer with 23 years' experience, said he was "convinced" that people's faith had a positive impact on policing. The committed Christian, part of the leadership team of the local Christian Policing Association (CPA), spoke out after a "dismissive" report of Home Office funding for CoAct, a national CPA project.
Insp Bartlett, 44, said he had seen "many direct answers to prayer in the workplace" from its positive impact on potentially violent incidents to reducing road deaths.
"For the past six years or so, I have reported to quarterly meetings of Christians from different churches in Barnstaple who want to pray for local policing issues," he said.
"I have seen a number of specific answers to their prayers – like the unprecedented Halloween night in the town when the police did not have to attend a single incident of disorder, or the prolific serial dwelling burglar who, after a significant series of offences, was apprehended in very unusual circumstances within three days of that group praying that he would trip up and be caught.
"In 2007, I asked the group to pray for the local detection rate, particularly in the Barnstaple sector, which was at about 26 per cent of total crime and one of the poorest in the force area and meant that justice, in too many cases, was not being done.
"Every quarter since that time, there has been an increase in that figure, despite reductions in the overall crime rate to the point that Barnstaple currently has a detection rate of just over 40 per cent of total crime, which is one of the highest in the country.
"Of course, that is down to some fantastic local policing, but the prayers I hear from Christians are for officers to be good at their job and implement practices that will lead to offenders being brought to account and victims seeing justice done. Clearly, many who do not have the faith I have would say that this is just coincidence, but the increase in that figure is so marked that it is indeed 'some coincidence'.
"From my experience, the more I pray, the more 'coincidences' I seem to see."
Insp Bartlett, who was responding to an article in the industry magazine Police Review, said "probably the most significant answer to prayer" he had experienced related to a fall in the number of serious road accidents in North Devon.
He explained: "I presented to the group a significant rise in northern Devon of the number of casualties killed or seriously injured on the roads and asked them to pray for this number to come down."
After the request, incidents fell from 97 in 2007/08 to 32 in 2008/09. "Not only was this a 67 per cent reduction on the previous year, and a far greater fall than any other area of the force, it was also more than 50 per cent lower than the next lowest annual figure locally (66).
"On this occasion, I am not sure we can make the same link between this reduction and 'good police work' as the figure is well beyond the control of even the best traffic officers that I know."
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton stressed that the force was "diverse" and accepted people of all faiths. He said he believed that prayer did have a positive impact.
"Whether you believe in the power of prayer or not, the fundamental issue is that there are people out there caring about society," Mr Netherton said. "I am all for people caring for their society and that they value and are proud of their police service.
"It may be that someone is motivated because they are a Christian, but this is not about one faith. We are a diverse organisation that accepts everybody."
133 Comments
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by Nick, Liverpool
Friday, March 19 2010, 5:27PM
“I pray that this idiot never turns up to my house when I'm being burgled. Utter nonsense.”
by Daphne Clifton, London
Friday, March 05 2010, 7:19AM
“Faith is not blind; it is based on fact, history and experience. Prayer works! I sit on the Met Police IAG in Greenwich and will take it to the group for consideration.
The fact is, prayer support sustains me and my business like nothing else I know of. I'm a business coach and traininer.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 3:14PM
“:| A secular state!? . What utter hogwash! . This is a Christian country and any who don't like it are free to leave at any time. . Saying prayers or attending any Church is as optional as playing football or watching Coronation Street, or Corrie as I believe they now call. . Some do both, and others like me, it drives to distraction!”
by LittleMissRandy, Previously EX33, now SE12
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 2:11PM
“Blind belief has no place in policing. This is an excellent example of why we need a Secular state where power of prayer/Fairies/Crystals/whatever is kept out of the serious business of the law.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 9:15AM
“:( TONY BLAIR Theo!!! . . . .NOOOOOOoooooooo! . . Please God, HELP US!!!!,”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 9:06AM
“:) Well it's onwards and upwards then Rosalind! . Eh wot gal?. . Have a good preach! . Do let me know if you get to the other side before I do if you would please. . . As I said before; . I'm dying to find out!
That was a very interesting read by the way. But it was a bit presumptuous and overbearing, and won't go down very well with the punters I thought. . I see where you get it from now. . But I found this.
"God is here proceeding in his controversy both with the priests and with the people. The people were as those that strove with the priests (v. 4) when they had priests that did their duty; but the generality of them lived in the neglect of their duty," . Best Charles xxx
PS. The Poet Laureate of South Carolina liked it by the way.”
by Theo H, Lifton
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 9:04AM
“Tony Blair believes in everlasting life.
Just think about that. :- (”
by Theo H, Lifton
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 8:56AM
“Not even hunting with hound gets a thread that is as long as this one. At 110 posts and counting, is this a record.
Now one of my neighbours says he prays for the fox to get away from the hounds....”
by Rosalind, UK
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 11:38PM
“No, Charles, it had seemed only kindness to pass over the matter. You *really* oughtn't to get that thing out in public.
Anyhoo, sermons to write, tat to polish, I shall leave you to your most individual metaphysics, & commend to you in parting Hosea iv:6.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 3:59PM
“:) Rosalind sweetness, with your Xianity. . I don't think you can have read my poem, "IS THERE REALLY NO DEATH?
There is line in it "Maybe the Greeks were even smarter than we thought.". As an Agnostic for most of my life, just maybe my poem will explain where I'm coming from.
Here it is again. . With love Charles xxx
IS THERE REALLY NO DEATH?
Is there really death, or just a resting place where all life recuperates?
Will our thoughts and dreams just be banked for future generations,
Re-emerging as another¿s inspiration carrying the world forward?
Could life just be nature¿s hard drive,
Whirring until some section falters,
Lying dormant till called upon by Jupiter or Mars?
Was it never more than this?
What is this short and insignificant passage of time?
Compared to the enormity of distant galaxies that have no end.
What else if not just some side show powered by the Sun¿s rays,
Played out on the Earth¿s stage, right out to each horizon.
Could it not all just be one long interactive dream?
Does anybody really comprehend?
Moreover is there really life at all?
Or just positive energy and cathode rays,
All sequenced by some distant star with ones and zeros.
Maybe the Greeks were even smarter than we thought,
And it is all just one great Parthenon.
Either way, let¿s all enjoy it whilst we still have a say.
If The Galaxies have no beginning or no end,
Must all things imaginable be possible?
That¿s a terrifying thought.
If this is so, must all disease just be corrupt data,
Waiting for some distant Titan to delete and reinstall?
Are these the Miracles we all pray for?
There must be just one almighty God after all.
by Charles Henry. . 2004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.”