Churches across England and Wales are being encouraged to sign up for a free Home Office security training programme designed to help places of worship prepare for security threats and hate crime.
The scheme, launched by the Home Office earlier this year and provided by CDS Support, gives guidance on recognising threats and improving preparedness when responding to incidents.
The programme has been in development since the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks in New Zealand, after the then Home Secretary committed to providing security training for places of worship. Following a pilot last year, the scheme officially launched in February.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis told Premier Christian News: “Everyone should feel safe and secure at their place of worship.
“This free training is helping faith organisations better understand security threats and prepare for incidents. It teaches them practical steps to protect their congregants and property.
“We’ve provided record funding this year to strengthen protective security at faith sites.
“The Government is proud to work closely with churches and all faith groups to keep their communities safe.”
The Home Office says it is providing a record £77 million this financial year to improve protective security at faith sites, including £5 million specifically for churches and other non-Jewish and non-Muslim places of worship.
Training is available in both multi-faith and faith-specific formats, with dedicated modules for Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities. Sessions are delivered in person at places of worship and community venues, through live online classes, and via an e-learning platform.
Ella Rees, Marketing Manager at CDS Support, said the programme had already seen strong engagement from churches.
"We've seen a really good uptake across all faith communities, including across all Christian denominations, with hundreds of people trained so far," she told Premier.
She said the training helps churches prepare for a range of risks, from theft and antisocial behaviour to hate crime and serious terrorist incidents, while allowing each place of worship to tailor security measures to its own circumstances.
Rees also said the programme has brought churches and other faith communities together to share experiences and practical ways of addressing common security challenges.
For church leaders unsure whether the training is necessary, she said many participants have adopted the same approach: "We hope it never happens, but we want to be prepared if it does."
Training is free and available both in person and online. Churches can register through the Faith Security Training website or by contacting CDS Support directly.