Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) police forces and (b) community groups to protect places of worship from targeted attacks.

The Government is clear that protecting the right of all faith communities to worship in peace and without fear is fundamental.

In 2026/27, record funding of up to £77.4 million has been made available for the Home Office’s protective security schemes for faith communities. This includes £32.4 million for the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, £40 million for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme and for security and Muslim faith schools, and £5 million for places of worship and associated faith community centres of all other faiths.

On 30 April, the Government also announced £25 million of immediate funding in 2026/27 to strengthen policing, protect Jewish communities and provide reassurance in response to the terrorist attack in Golders Green and recent spate of antisemitic attacks. This includes £20 million to support policing in maintaining enhanced, visible patrols and other operational measures, and a further £4 million for the JCPS Grant, contributing to the overall £32.4 million funding outlined for the Grant above.

The Home Office has also launched a brand-new scheme, Faith Security Training (FST), to better protect faith communities in England and Wales. The FST scheme, developed in partnership with policing and faith representatives, is a free scheme designed to help faith communities strengthen their security awareness and preparedness. This training is practical, accessible, and tailored to the needs of faith leaders and volunteers.

The Government continues to work closely with the police and other partners to monitor threats and ensure that effective and proportionate protections are in place to protect communities from hate crime, terrorism and wider security threats.