Places of worship: security funding scheme

This afternoon the Home Office announced the Places of worship: security funding scheme for the provision of protective security measures for places of worship in England and Wales. The scheme is part of a wider cross-government work to stop all forms of hate crime, and bids for funding can be made for the next 8 weeks until 5pm on 20 September 2016. A second round of bids will open in spring 2017.

Scope

Bids from places of worship in England and Wales will be considered; schools and educational institutions are not eligible to apply and the Jewish community is exempt from this scheme as a similar commitment was made to fund Jewish community sites through a grant administered by the Community Security Trust.

Bids may be made for the capital cost of security equipment but not for the cost of recruiting security personnel. Places of worship need to contribute 20% of the total costs. The non-exhaustive list of examples includes: CCTV; perimeter fencing; access control gates; bollards; door locks; window locks; intruder alarm; external lighting; security doors. The funding would also include the appropriate labour cost to install the security equipment, but will make no financial contribution towards: any annual service charges; maintenance charges, or one-off fees such as connection or monitoring charges.

Details of the bidding process and other criteria are listed on the Home Office announcement, and the timetable is:

Bid opens 26 July 2016
Bid closes 5pm on 20 September 2016
Home Office assessment period 21 September to 19 October 2016
Panel consideration meeting By 2 November 2016
Outcome communicated By 9 November 2016

Contact details: mailto:securityfundingCED@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

 

5 thoughts on “Places of worship: security funding scheme

  1. As a taxpayer I would like to opt out of funding the scheme, is that allowed?

    Will there be any funding for protecting the security of the general public FROM places of worship?

    Seriously it sounds as if the worshippers won’t be able to get in once all these perimeter fences and whatnot are installed. Might not be a bad thing considering some of the ideas that are being “taught” within.

  2. What utter nonsense.
    Why should public money go to private organisations?
    These religious organisations make money – and plenty of it.
    Let them pay for their own security, just like all other businesses do.
    Is this another not-so-cheap form of electoral fraud?
    Does the government hope to buy votes in return for their largesse with our money?

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