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A wave of violence has engulfed church workers in England and Wales, with, on average, more than one assault every day of the year.

In 1999, the latest year for which figures are available, 462 church workers, including ministers and priests, were injured in attacks. And because many crimes are not reported, the figure is recognized by the British government as greatly understating the actual level of violence against church workers.

At the same time a sample survey by researchers at London University has found that 12 percent of Anglican clergy in England—about 1,300 priests—were attacked in 2000.

Crime against churches and church buildings, including arson, malicious damage, and theft, is also running at a high level, with an average of 10 Anglican churches coming under attack every day. The figures, from security specialists Churchwatch and church insurers Ecclesiastical, point to Britain's growing problem of drug abuse as a major factor, with addicts seeing clergy as easy targets to help fund their habit.

Nick Tolson, national coordinator of Churchwatch, said that other professional groups like doctors and teachers no longer lived in the deprived communities they served, so that ministers and priests were often "the last official figures left there." This made them a magnet for those trying to find money.

Tolson told ENI: "Many clergy find the hardest thing is to shut the front door. Our advice is never give money. But also never just say no. Provide alternatives, like giving food from the house."

Tolson travels around the United Kingdom running security courses for clergy and other church workers. The courses are free, sponsored by Ecclesiastical and other companies. More than 100 people attended a course on January 11 in Bournemouth, in southern England. Three months earlier in the seaside town, Graham Wheeler, a Church of England priest, was attacked in his vicarage and found himself engaged in a wrestling match with his assailant.

Tolson, who was a policeman for seven years, explained that the course explained ways to prevent encounters reaching the stage of physical violence. "Nothing happens suddenly," he said. "There are 156 signs of impending violence. For example, stance. If somebody is going to hit you, they must stand sideways."

Someone about to attack would show warning signs and then danger signs, Tolson explained. Warning signs included a flushed face, standing tall, pointing and other exaggerated gestures, and keeping the weight on one leg while lightly kicking with the other leg—an instinctive movement that Tolson described as "testing the ground."

Danger signs included a lowered chin—to protect the throat—standing lower, hunched shoulders, clenching and unclenching fists and an arm pulled back.

When danger signs were reached the target had just one or two seconds to respond, especially by keeping out of range.

For Tolson, there are no bonus points in trying to be a hero. It was better, he said, to escape rather than lay hands on the intruder. "Even if he is setting fire to the nave altar, don't interfere, but go and get help."

Graham Wheeler, who was attacked in his vicarage, told ENI that it was the second attack he had suffered, while the vicarage, in a wealthy area of Bournemouth, had been broken into five times.

Alone in the house three months ago, he had opened the door in the early evening "and found a hand pushed round my throat." A wrestling match followed, lasting 25 minutes. Eventually the man learned the whereabouts of a large amount of cash, and made off with 150 pounds (roughly $225 U.S.).

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January (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45