London’s police force has warned religious leaders not to flout Covid-19 rules after being forced to break up religious services during England’s second lockdown. A senior officer said that most organisations had followed the rules and stopped organised prayer sessions, but “small pockets” had broken the rules and risked spreading the virus. “This is deeply regrettable and, in the interests of public safety, we have attended those incidents and ensured that crowds are dispersed,” said Commander Catherine Roper in a letter to faith leaders in the capital. The incidents have included a baptism at a church in London attended by about 30 people. The lead pastor Regan King said he was holding the service to serve the “greater good” but was persuaded by police to hold a smaller one outdoors. Last week, the organiser of a religious service at a house in Harrow, west London, was told he faces a £10,000 fine after 86 people turned up, with no attempts at social distancing or wearing masks. There were so many people inside, police could not get in. The first UK lockdown was announced on the eve of Eid, sparking anger in some Muslim communities. The second has included Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Authorities lit up London’s Trafalgar Square at the weekend but families were not allowed to gather at homes. In announcing the latest lockdown which continues until December 2, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the ambition was to stem a rise in infections to allow people to have “as normal a Christmas as possible” on December 25. Commander Roper told faith leaders that the capital was at a “critical point” in fighting the virus and most religious leaders had switched to online services and other forms of worship. “As our city continues our collective fight against the virus, I would urge places of worship and faith communities across London to observe the current restrictions, which include faith venues being available for ‘independent prayer’ only,” she wrote. “Enforcement action will be taken in those cases where deliberate, dangerous and flagrant attempts have been made to ignore the regulations, as well as ignoring the instructions and advice of officers."