Adopt a Cop
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What is ‘Adopt a Cop’?
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‘Adopt a Cop’ is a project aimed at strengthening links between the police and the local community. It aims to present to the Christian public the human face of the Police Service one not seen by most people whose only contact with the police may be in confrontational or media-led situations. Matt Baggott, the Chief Constable of Leicestershire described it like this:
"Over the years I have come to see just how important the relationship between local churches and policing can be in restoring hope and reducing crime in our neighbourhoods. Mutual encouragement, appropriate support and individual friendships are all very powerful ways of transforming lives."
- How can I get involved?
Those involved in the project commit themselves to adopting in prayer all who work at their local police station, both police officers and civilians. A co-ordinator at the police station supplies information for prayer on a regular basis. Such information may include more high profile situations such as areas of potential disorder as well as the purely human needs such as joyful occasions, births, deaths, sickness, marriages, etc. Churches commit themselves to pray for all areas of policing and will adopt officers on both an individual and corporate basis. Community Officers may be adopted and prayed for by name but larger groups, such as the CID and Senior Management, may be prayed for corporately.
- Who can participate?
Any individual church or group of churches may feel that it is God's will for them to participate in ‘Adopt a Cop’. This does not preclude individuals praying for the Police Service but the aim of the project is for churches, as representatives of their local community, to become actively involved with their local police by committing themselves to prayer.
- How did it start in the UK?
From within Churches Together in Brixton came a small group who started working with PC Andy Coles, a local officer and member of the Christian Police Association. This group proposed and set up the scheme. To date about 40 churches in the Brixton area are committed to pray for their local police, and new schemes are being set up all over the country.
- How can a local ‘Adopt a Cop’ project be set up?
The first step is to contact the Christian Police Association, who will send you an information pack about what is involved with the project and detailed instructions on how to start. If there is already a scheme running in your area, CPA will put you in touch with the local co-ordinator. Otherwise, if the CPA has an officer locally who can act as a link, you will be informed. If not, it is still possible to start a scheme with the co-operation of local senior officers. CPA will give you as much assistance as possible to get started.
- So, why ‘Adopt a Cop’?
The reason for ‘Adopt a Cop’ is to fulfil, within the Church, the Apostle Paul's charge to Timothy - "I urge, then,… that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for … all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We firmly believe that prayer changes things and as Christians pray for the Police Service and their local policing situation, so we can expect God to answer in powerful and remarkable ways.
More Information
If you have a general enquiry about Adopt a Cop then please e-mail us at: aac@cpaUK.net. Or, if you would like to receive an information pack by post, then please fill out the form below. Note: The information you supply will only be used to send you details of Adopt A Cop. It will not be given or sold to a third party.
Consider linking to the CPA
For over 100 years the Christian Police Association has been in existence, seeking to work with those in the Police Service. In an age when there seems very little good news, we have a message that is relevant to the Police Service of today and we want actively to share the good news about Jesus Christ. We want to encourage those inside and outside the Police Service to pray for the police and their local policing situation. For information on how to become a member or associate member of the CPA go to our Contact Us page.