The British government’s Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme is open for applications. It allows places of worship such as churches, mosques, gurdwaras, temples and associated faith community centres to receive government funding to improve physical security. This can include more secure gates, locks, alarms and CCTV in order to deter and prevent hate crime attacks.
The scheme, first introduced in 2016, was simplified and expanded following the Christchurch terror attack in 2019, and the amount of funding available has doubled to £3.2 million from last year.
Since its introduction more than 180 grants have been awarded helping 76 churches,75 mosques, 23 gurdwaras and nine Hindu temples.
Groups have until August 9 to make an application. Having been closed due to coronavirus restrictions, places of worship across England have been permitted to reopen for individual prayer from June 13 following discussions between the government and representatives of major faiths through the Places of Worship Taskforce.
In addition to the Places of Worship Scheme, the Home Office opened a consultation on 15 March to review what else can be done to protect faith institutions, while ensuring a balance is struck between worshipping openly without fear and providing adequate security measures to protect worshippers. The consultation closes on 28 June, and its findings will be published in due course.
Read more at the U.K. government
