West Yorkshire Police have issued a formal apology to a bishop after officers disrupted a memorial service in a Leeds church on Thursday while attempting to arrest a man wanted on recall to prison. 

Leeds District Commander Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds said West Yorkshire Police “deeply regrets the impact this has had on the family, congregation and wider community”. 

He said places of worship held a “special and significant role”, adding the force had “failed to meet that standard” of care. He also confirmed the incident happened during a service for a longstanding congregation member at the New Testament Church of God. 

Chief Superintendent Dodds said Superintendent Matthew Scott met the bishop to apologise in person and had also put his apology in writing, adding he hoped it would be shared with the congregation.  

In his letter, Superintendent Scott stressed that such actions were “not reflective of normal policing practice” and should only happen with “strict supervisory oversight and with the utmost respect for the setting”. 

Chief Superintendent Dodds said West Yorkshire Police is continuing discussions with the bishop “to arrange further engagement with the congregation and to strengthen our approach to policing in partnership with the community”. 

He added that the incident had been referred to the professional standards department and that a “full and thorough review” was underway to prevent a “reoccurrence”.