Church security

Ecclesiastical is here to provide guidance and support to your church.

Every place of worship and its location is unique, presenting different challenges - so a tailored review and response, reflecting the individual risks faced, needs to be undertaken.

Security plans should be developed to address the risks you identify and should be regularly reviewed to ensure they remain current and reflect location/site changes. The plan 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 any attack.

These special buildings are places of worship, so a balanced and proportionate approach to planning is required.

• Raise awareness of potential security attacks amongst staff and volunteers. Additional training may be necessary. A permanent diligence culture is critical. Often, attackers will visit a building a number of times to plan their attack before the actual event.
• Report any suspicious activity immediately 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. Do existing door and window locks appear robust/adequate, or do they need improving? Are internal doors closed and locked in the evening?
• Does your current intruder, fire alarm, or CCTV system meet your requirements – or are there identified blind spots?
• Are appropriate background checks undertaken on new or existing staff and volunteers?
• Has a formal and recorded search plan been introduced at opening and closing times to identify any suspicious activity or devices?
• Extra attention and precautions are required when arranging special events. Think about having dedicated staff for car parking and visitor conflicts.
• Are staff or volunteers aware of how to respond to suspicious mail, emails, or unidentified objects?
• Do not make life easier for attackers. Do not allow ignition sources or other materials that could be used in an attack to be left inside or outside the building.
• Ensure your business continuity plan is straightforward, up-to-date, and meets your needs. Staff and volunteers should be aware of the plan. Test the plan on a regular basis. The plan should be available and easy to use in challenging scenarios.
• Have appropriate debrief and counselling support available should an event occur, which affects your staff and volunteers?