Church security

Every place of worship and its location is unique, and your response to security should reflect the individual challenges you face.

A security plan helps address risks you identify at your church and should be regularly reviewed to reflect any changes. It should be compatible with any other plans for the property, such as evacuation and fire strategy plans.

You should also develop incident response and business continuity plans to help deal with the aftermath of a security breach.

We recommend taking a balanced and proportionate approach to security planning, but some possible steps include:

• Raising awareness of potential security issues with staff and volunteers. An always-on security mindset is helpful. Attackers often visit a building multiple times to plan their attack and may be deterred if approached.
• Immediately report any suspicious activity to the police.
• Consult experts for advice. Regional police forces are supported by dedicated Counter Terrorism Advisor Teams.
• Review security at entry points to your premises, including vehicle access. Make sure existing door and window locks are robust and internal doors are closed and locked in the evening.
• Your current intruder, fire alarm or CCTV systems should be checked for blind spots.
• Appropriate background checks should be made on new or existing staff and volunteers.
• A formal search plan can be introduced at opening and closing times to check for any suspicious activity or devices.
• Pay extra attention and consider additional precautions when arranging special events. Think about having dedicated staff for car parking and visitor conflicts.
• Train staff and volunteers to recognise and respond to suspicious mail, emails or unidentified objects.
• Do not make life easier for attackers. Ignition sources and other materials that could be used in an attack should be stored away from visitors.
• Make and maintain a straightforward emergency plan. Staff and volunteers should be aware of the plan and it should be tested on a regular basis. The plan should be available and easy to use in challenging scenarios.  
• Have an appropriate debrief and offer counselling support if your staff and volunteers experience an event.

For more detailed information about church security, download our guides from the list below.