On 19 May 2022, the UK Government announced that applications for the 2022/23 round of the Places of Worship Protective Security Fund are now open. Additionally, due to the high threat of hate crime faced by Muslim communities, this year’s announcement included specific new measures regarding (a) security guards at mosques and (b) widening the eligibility to include Muslim faith schools. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has provided the following Frequency Asked Questions below to help British Muslim communities understand what this announcement means for them. Click on links or scroll down for the answers.
- Is this a new scheme?
- Are there any new changes in the latest announcement that will affect mosques?
- Why have I not heard about this scheme before?
- Why is the Government funding security at Places of Worship?
- What does the MCB say about the scheme?
- How long does it take to complete the application form?
- Are CCTV cameras installed through this scheme monitored by the Government or other agencies?
- Is the scheme linked to PREVENT?
- I want to use my own CCTV equipment provider and apply for a grant to cover the costs of this. Is this possible?
- How will places of worship such as mosques be expected to use the security personnel/guarding funding?
- Is this funding applicable for schools, or other Muslim institutions, or just mosques?
- I live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, does the scheme apply to me?
- When is the deadline for the scheme?
- How can I find out more and apply to the scheme?
(1) Is this a new scheme?
No, the UK Government launched the Places of Worship (POW) Protective Security Scheme for England and Wales in 2016. The scheme is designed to support Places of Worship and associated community centres at risk of hate crime, to access funding for improvements to their building security, such as installing better lighting, door access systems, security alarms or CCTV cameras. The deadline for applying for the 2022/23 round is 14th July 2022.
(2) Are there any new changes in the latest announcement that will affect mosques?
For the first time, mosques and associated community centres at risk of hate crime will also be able to access funding for security personnel/guarding. More information will be available later this year but expressing interest must be done by 14th July via completing the online application form. In addition, Muslim faith schools will be able to access security improvement funding via a separate scheme to be made available later this year. The total size of this new fund in 2022/23 is £24.5m.
(3) Why have I not heard about this scheme before?
There has been relatively low uptake possibly due to a lack of awareness of the scheme in previous years.
(4) Why is the Government funding security at Places of Worship?
The scheme is part of the Government’s Plan for Tackling Hate Crime published in 2016. Home Office statistics also continue to show that for the past few years, approximately half of religiously-motivated hate crime in England and Wales is targeted at Muslims. After the New Zealand Islamophobic Terrorist Attacks in March 2019 that murdered 51 worshippers at two mosques, the MCB wrote to the Prime Minister calling on the UK Government to properly fund mosque security, in-line with funding amounts for other faith communities. The following day, the Home Secretary announced additional funding for the scheme which was welcomed by the MCB.
(5) What does MCB say about the scheme?
In June 2019, the MCB issued a Briefing Paper to the Home Office with 14 recommendations on how the scheme can improve its uptake, trust and respect amongst British Muslim communities. This can be viewed online here: www.mcb.org.uk/mcb-updates/briefing-paper-places-of-worship-security-scheme/
(6) How long does it take to complete the application form?
The online application form requires the applicant to upload evidence of how and why your place of worship/community centre is vulnerable to hate crime. A number of hours need to be set aside to gather the information and make a submission within the provided timeframe.
(7) Are CCTV cameras installed through this scheme monitored by the Government or other agencies?
Since 2020, the scheme uses a single approved contractor, Esotec Limited, for managing the scheme on behalf of the Government, including purchasing and installing the security equipment for successful applicants. No information is publicly available regarding the ongoing operation and maintenance arrangements with Esotec Limited for the security equipment following its installation.
(8) Is the scheme linked to PREVENT?
The scheme is not advertised as being related to or part of the PREVENT scheme. Responsibility for delivering the scheme falls within the Home Office. One of the MCB’s recommendations to the Home Office in our 2019 briefing paper was for the scheme’s marketing and communication to clarify that since its launch in 2016, the scheme “…has been and will remain separate to the Prevent strategy and has no strings attached…”
(9) I want to use my own CCTV equipment provider and apply for a grant to cover the costs of this. Is this possible?
(10) How will places of worship such as mosques be expected to use the security personnel/guarding funding?
At the moment this is not clear, but further information is expected to be made available on this later in the year. If you are interested in applying for security guarding services at your mosque, you will need to indicate this on your application form.
(11) Is this funding applicable for schools, or other Muslim institutions, or just mosques?
Eligible Muslim community institutions for the main scheme are limited to mosques and associated faith community centres that are vulnerable to hate crime. In addition, Muslim faith schools will be able to access security improvement funding via a separate scheme to be made available later this year.
(12) I live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, does the scheme apply to me?
The scheme run by the UK Government as outlined above, is applicable for England & Wales only. The Scottish Government launched a similar Hate Crime Security Fund for Places of Worship in Scotland which ran between May and July 2021. Northern Ireland currently does not have such a scheme.
(13) When is the deadline for the scheme?
The application process is open from 19th May 2022 and the deadline for applying for the 2022/23 round is 11.59pm on the 14th July 2022. Please note applications will not be accepted after this date.
(14) How can I find out more and apply to the scheme?
The official UK Government scheme web page with more information and links to application form can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/places-of-worship-security-funding-scheme
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