According to information from the National Security Inspectorate, the NSI, the UK Government is inviting places of worship in England and Wales to bid for funding to increase their security measures, if they can show they are vulnerable and at risk of attack from religious hate crimes. A fund of £2.4 million for “protective security measures” has been set aside and NSI approved companies are referenced on the Government website as approved security providers.
Churches, mosques and temples have been invited to bid for funds (synagogues are excluded from the scheme as the Government has provided a separate grant to the Community Security Trust, a charity that provides protection services to Britain’s Jewish communities). The scheme has been launched by the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, when she recently outlined a Hate Crime Action Plan last month. The Action Plan was launched following a rise in racist incidents since the UK voted to withdraw from the European Union.
Information on the Hate Crime Action Plan and the funding scheme is on the UK Government web site. NSI approval is often viewed as an ultimate hallmark of integrity and best practice in the security and fire safety sectors. NSI’s premier approval scheme for electronic security installers – NSI NACOSS Gold – is the highest accolade for reputable and professional organisations installing and maintaining intruder alarms, CCTV and access control systems. The Government will accept bids for its security funding scheme for places of worship. A second round of bids will open in the spring of next year.
