The Home Office has announced bidding for grants under the Places of worship: security funding scheme, to provide protective security measures for places of worship in England and Wales where there is evidence of hate crime. Bids for funding can be made until 5pm on 20 September. A second round of bids will open in spring 2017.
Eligibility
Bids are invited from places of worship in England and Wales: however,
· schools and educational institutions are not eligible to apply; and
· Jewish places of worship are ineligible because there is already a scheme in place to fund security measures at Jewish community sites through grants administered by the Community Security Trust.
Bids may be made for the capital cost of security equipment but not for the cost of recruiting security personnel. Places of worship need to contribute 20 per cent of the total costs.
The non-exhaustive list of examples includes: CCTV; perimeter fencing; access control gates; bollards; door locks; window locks; intruder alarm; external lighting; security doors. The funding would also include the appropriate labour cost to install the security equipment, but not contributions towards: annual service charges, maintenance charges, or one-off fees such as connection or monitoring charges.
How to bid
1. Provide supporting documents to show that you need increased security. These can include police reports, records of incidents, photographic evidence or insurance claims. You need to demonstrate that either your place of worship or one from your local comnumity (within 2 miles) has been subject to a hate based attack.
2. Arrange a site survey with the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) or your local Crime Prevention Design Adviser (CPDA) and get them to complete an assessment form.
3. Provide three quotes from approved security installers.
4. Fill in a bid application form.
Bidding closes at 5pm on 20 September.
Outcomes will be communicated by 9 November.
Contact details: securityfundingCED@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.