Record funding to protect places of worship from hate crime
The Government has marked the one-year anniversary of the terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, by announcing record levels of funding to protect 49 places of worship in England and Wales against hate crime attacks.
Details of the £1.6 million cash injection were released one year after 51 people were killed and 49 injured in shootings at two mosques during Friday prayers on March 15, 2019. A 28-year-old alleged white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, is to stand trial in connection with the incident in June.
The money will be used to install protective measures such as CCTV, fencing, gates, alarms and lighting, at places of worship and associated faith community centres that are vulnerable to hate crime.
Twenty-seven mosques, 13 churches, five gurdwaras and four Hindu temples will receive funding this year, the largest amount allocated in a single year since the scheme was set up in 2016. The funding is expected to double next year to £3.2 million.
In addition to the funding, the Government is launching a new consultation for faith groups to provide feedback on what more can be done to protect them from future attacks.
The consultation, which will last for eight weeks, will enable all faith groups to share their experiences of hate crime, and provide valuable insight for the Government in keeping pace with the evolving threat.
The consultation recognises that different religious groups have different needs, and that some members of congregations, such as women or the elderly, may feel more vulnerable than other groups. The results of the consultation will then be analysed and considered as part of future steps on how the Government can protect religious groups.
Minister for Countering Extremism Baroness Williams said: “No one should be fearful about practicing their faith. Whether it is a church, a mosque, gurdwara or temple, any place of worship should be a space of reflection and safety.
“The Places of Worship scheme provides that physical security. However, we can always do more, which is why we want to hear from worshipers about how we can better protect them from these terrible attacks.”
In 2018/19, police in England and Wales recorded 103,379 hate crime offences, an increase of ten per cent on the previous year. This increase is thought to be largely due to improvements in the police recording and more victims feeling confident to come forward and report these crimes.
The consultation, being launched by the Home Office this month, will ask faith groups what else should be done to help them feel safe and confident while practicing their religion.
The Jewish Community receives a separate fund – the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant.
