Mosques are being advised to carry out lockdown drills, strengthen ties with police and improve CCTV coverage under national guidance published amid growing concerns about anti-Muslim attacks, The Guardian reported.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) released a new security and preparedness framework for mosques, trustees and volunteers, warning that places of worship and community centres faced an increasing threat from vandalism, intimidation, threats and targeted hostility.
The guidance provides practical advice on how mosques should respond to an incident. It includes lockdown procedures, emergency response planning, incident reporting systems and measures to strengthen relationships with local authorities and police forces.
There has been a series of attacks recently targeting Muslim communities, including one on the home of an imam in Bolton, and heightened fears after racist riots in Belfast.
The MCB warned its nearly 500 affiliated mosques and community centres to remain vigilant for another summer of “violence on our streets”, and imams were encouraged to use Friday sermons to share messages of hope, unity and resilience.
Home Office figures released last October showed recorded hate crime in England and Wales was rising for the first time in three years, including increases in racially and religiously motivated offences. In England and Wales, where 3.9 million people identify as Muslim, anti-Muslim hate crime rose from 2,690 offences to 3,199 in the 12 months to March 2025.
The guidance sets out a phased roadmap for improving security over three, 12 and 36 months.
Among the threats identified are graffiti, vandalism, arson attempts, abuse and intimidation at entrances, suspicious individuals loitering around premises, threats during busy prayer times and bomb threats or suspicious packages.
