Places of Worship
- Protecting your religious community

Deter the threat
Every year there are around dozens of major arson attacks on places of worship in the UK, with each incident costing thousands of pounds of damage. Places of worship are often seen as soft targets by arsonists, burglars and vandals, and may also be a target for hate crimes.

Don't be a target
Places of worship have a number of particular problems that can make them specific targets, including:

• Religious articles often have a high value and may not be locked away at night;
• There may be expensive equipment left on-site, such as a PA system or musical instruments;
• Places of worship can attract people looking for shelter who may start fires either accidentally or deliberately;
• Places of worship may be a target for hate crime in some areas.

All of this is coupled with the fact that places of worship, in particular churches, may lack adequate security which enhances the risk.

Protect yourself
There are a number of steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of vandalism or arson against places of worship. These do not have to be time-consuming or expensive - some common sense, low-cost housekeeping techniques can be very effective against arsonists. The APB has produced a guidance leaflet giving some practical advice. Vigilance is the key to protection - if you are aware of the risks then this will go some way to protecting yourself and your community resources.

Top 5 ways to protect a place of worship

1. Consider the risks if you are unsure of how to combat the risks, ask your local crime prevention officer to carry out a crime prevention survey of your building.

2. Restrict entry to the building and monitor access to the site: the fewer entrances there are to premise the easier it is to monitor the people entering and leaving a property. Ensure that access is restricted and monitored to car parks and other enclosures under your control

3. Do not open suspect packages.

4. Report suspicious vehicles to the police.

5. Encourage staff to take security seriously and establish regular training for them. Ensure they are aware of contingency plans and procedures for the building. Make guidelines readily available to all staff including ‘out of doors’ house keeping staff.