LONDON: The UK government is making up to £40 million available in 2026/27 through the Home Office’s Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, which provides eligible mosques, Muslim faith schools and associated community centres with security measures free of charge. The funding responds to concerns about anti-Muslim hatred and attacks on Muslim places of worship in Britain.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| What | The Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, run by the UK Home Office |
| How much | Up to £40 million in 2026/27, including Muslim faith schools |
| Where | England and Wales sites that meet the official eligibility rules |
| Who can apply | Mosques, Muslim faith schools and associated Muslim community centres |
| How it works | Approved sites receive protective measures (not cash) such as CCTV, intruder alarms, perimeter fencing and security personnel |
| Who decides | The Home Office, assessing each application individually using independent security assessments |
What is the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme?
It is a Home Office programme that protects mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres against hate crime. Recent reporting has highlighted tens of millions of pounds in emergency and protective-security funding following disorder and attacks in recent years. The funding supports physical measures designed to reduce vulnerability where worshippers gather.
How much funding is actually available?
UK government and parliamentary records say up to £40 million is available in 2026/27, including security support for Muslim faith schools. Wider protective-security funding for Jewish and other faith communities runs through separate schemes, and keeping those figures apart is important for accurate reporting.
The scheme does not hand cash to individual congregations. Approved sites receive protective measures through government arrangements. Parliamentary answers list security personnel services, CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing as examples.
Why has mosque security become urgent?
Muslim organisations have repeatedly warned about anti-Muslim hate, threats and attacks targeting mosques and individuals. Prayer times and major religious occasions create predictable gatherings, which can make places of worship especially vulnerable.
The Quran treats the safety of mosques as a serious matter. Allah says: “Who does more wrong than those who prevent Allah’s Name from being mentioned in His places of worship and strive to destroy them?” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:114). Another verse describes who should care for them: “The mosques of Allah should only be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and fear none but Allah” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:18).
How are applications assessed?
The Home Office says applications are considered individually and security measures are informed by independent assessments. This matches protection to each site’s needs rather than giving every mosque an identical package.
The government does not publish detailed totals of successful or pending applications, arguing that disclosure could reveal sensitive information about vulnerable sites. Outsiders therefore cannot easily measure delivery from a public list.
Because rules can change, committees should rely on current government guidance rather than old forms or social-media instructions. Applicants must follow the official eligibility and application requirements.
Are there delays in delivering security?
Separate reporting has raised questions about application backlogs and whether vulnerable mosques receive improvements quickly enough. Announcing funding is not the same as installing protection at every site that needs it.
Which Muslim institutions are covered?
The programme extends beyond mosques to Muslim faith schools and associated community centres. Threats against a religious community may target educational or social institutions as well as places used mainly for prayer.
Is security more than CCTV?
Yes. Cameras, alarms and secure entrances help, but preparedness also means trained volunteers, emergency contacts, safeguarding procedures and clear plans for large gatherings. Mosques should coordinate with local police and professional security advisers rather than rely on improvised measures.
Islamic teaching supports taking sensible precautions. When a man asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ whether he should tie his camel and trust in Allah, or leave it untied and trust in Allah, the Prophet ﷺ replied: “Tie it and rely upon Allah” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2517). Sunnah.com lists this narration as Hasan (Darussalam), although the same entry records that Yahya al-Qattan considered it munkar, so some scholars treat its chain with caution. Its meaning, that trust in Allah goes together with reasonable effort, is widely cited by scholars and is supported by the Quranic emphasis on reliance upon Allah.
How can mosques stay welcoming while staying safe?
A mosque is not meant to feel like a fortress. Leaders must raise safety without making worshippers, children or visitors feel unwelcome. Good planning is often discreet: clear entrances, working lighting, trained staff and sensible emergency procedures.
Volunteers should know emergency contacts, evacuation arrangements and how to report suspicious behaviour without profiling ordinary visitors. Safeguarding and accessibility must stay part of the plan so that security does not create barriers for children, elderly worshippers or disabled visitors.
What should mosque committees prepare?
Committees should use the current Home Office guidance, document security concerns carefully and keep organisational information accurate. They should avoid publishing sensitive details of vulnerabilities on public social-media pages.
Strong local relationships also help. Knowing neighbouring businesses, schools, councillors and police contacts makes it easier to communicate quickly after an incident, and accurate contact lists with clearly assigned responsibilities are simple but important. Committees should review security after major events rather than wait for a crisis: Ramadan, Eid and Friday prayers change crowd patterns, parking and entrance use, and a plan that works on an ordinary weekday may need adjusting when hundreds of extra worshippers arrive.
Why is physical security not the whole answer?
Physical security can reduce risk but does not address the social causes of hate. Muslim organisations and public officials continue to call for stronger responses to anti-Muslim prejudice, misinformation and harassment. Law enforcement, education, responsible political language and community relationships all affect whether people feel safe practising their faith.
The Quran calls believers to “cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:2). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught that believers, in their mutual love and compassion, are like one body: when one part aches, the whole body responds (Sahih Muslim 2586). Protecting a vulnerable community is therefore a shared responsibility, not only a task for the affected congregation.
Is this relevant outside Britain?
Muslim communities in Europe, North America and elsewhere face similar debates about securing places of worship. Related: London’s Fazl Mosque centenary and a century of Muslim community service. Britain’s programme will be watched as one model for how governments can support vulnerable faith communities.
What this means for you
If you serve on a mosque committee, check the current Home Office guidance and apply through the official route. If you worship at a mosque, learn the emergency exits and volunteer contacts, and report concerns to the committee rather than on social media. Everyone can support neighbours and local mosques by challenging prejudice and building relationships.
Frequently asked questions
Does the scheme give mosques cash grants?
No. Approved sites receive protective security measures arranged through government, such as CCTV, intruder alarms, fencing or security personnel, rather than a payment to the congregation.
Who can apply for mosque security funding?
Mosques, Muslim faith schools and associated Muslim community centres can apply if they meet the Home Office eligibility rules. Each application is assessed individually, so applicants should read the current guidance first.
Is taking security measures compatible with trusting Allah?
Yes. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told a man to tie his camel and then rely upon Allah (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2517), which scholars commonly understand as combining practical effort with trust in Allah. Scholars differ on the strength of this narration’s chain, but the principle is consistent with wider Islamic teaching on taking lawful means.
Official guidance: UK Home Office — Protective Security for Mosques Scheme.
Sources: Quran 2:114; Quran 9:18; Quran 5:2; Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2517; Sahih Muslim 2586.
Also read:
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➤ Ibn Khaldun: The Historian Who Founded the Science of Society
➤ How to Find the Qibla Direction: Compass, App and Sun Methods
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