Pubdate: Sun, 31 Mar 2002
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Sophie Goodchild and Harvey McGavin

NO PRAYERS FOR PADDICK IN BRIXTON

The Good Friday congregation came to say a prayer for Brixton, but there was
no pledge of support offered for Brian Paddick, Lambeth's controversial
commander. Every year people from 40 churches in Brixton take part in a
"walk of witness" to celebrate the holiest day in the Christian calendar.

Founded in the aftermath of the 1981 riots, Churches Together in Brixton
(CTIB) organises the open-air Easter service in Windrush Square.

But this year was different. As Chris Andre Watson, pastor of Brixton
baptist church, told the congregation, the community had been in the
headlines over the last two weeks and not much of the coverage had been
positive. "This area is tough. It's a difficult place to police but
unhelpful policing can make the situation worse," he said.

Early last week, jokey references to Mr Paddick's Monty Python namesake --
"Brian's not a very naughty boy, he's the messiah" -- appeared on posters at
a public meeting calling for the commander's reinstatement. These references
would not have gone down well with worshippers in Brixton who may feel that
Mr Paddick has been badly treated but who do not support his methods. "The
more conservative members of our community, would be happy to see Paddick
go," said Pastor Watson.

But many appear to disagree with this view. More than 1,000 supporters have
signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of Brian Paddick, Britain's
most senior openly gay police officer.

This week the document will be formally handed to Sir John Stevens, the
Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, at Scotland Yard. An influential
committee of MPs is also planning to back Mr Paddick, creator of Lambeth's
pilot cannabis project.

The Home Affairs select committee is considering including his controversial
views in its review of Britain's drug laws. Its report is expected to be
published next month.

From senior government ministers to the residents of Brixton, support has
poured in for the Lambeth commander, who has now been moved to a desk job
after lurid allegations were published about his private life in a
newspaper.
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