The UK Government has announced a record £73.4 million in funding for 2026–27 to strengthen protective security at Jewish, Muslim and other faith sites across the country. The funding, confirmed by the Home Office and HM Treasury, will support security personnel and physical protection measures such as CCTV systems, fencing, intruder alarms and floodlighting. The initiative aims to ensure that faith communities feel safe amid persistently high levels of religious hate crime.
Under the allocation, up to £28.4 million will be provided through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, managed by the Community Security Trust, to safeguard synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres. Meanwhile, up to £40 million will be distributed through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme to support mosques, Muslim schools and related community facilities. Eligible organisations can apply directly to the Home Office on a rolling basis.
In addition, the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme, which supports Christian, Hindu, Sikh and other non-Jewish or Muslim faith sites, will receive a £1.5 million uplift, bringing total funding for the scheme to a record £5 million. The next application window for this programme is expected to open later this year.
The announcement follows an earlier commitment to increase funding in response to heightened threats and rising hate crime statistics. Official data for England and Wales indicate that religious hate crime reached record levels in 2025, with Jewish and Muslim communities disproportionately affected. Government officials stated that beyond funding security infrastructure, the measures are intended to reinforce a clear message that religious hatred and intimidation will not be tolerated. Police forces have also enhanced patrols in high-risk areas and expanded efforts to address repeat protests, investigate hate crimes and support targeted communities.
