Government confirms extra £10m to protect UK synagogues
Home Secretary says 'This government will never tolerate religious hatred or intimidation'
An additional £10 million in funding has been confirmed to protect UK synagogues through the government’s protective security scheme for faith communities.
The Community Security Trust (CST) welcomed the announcement, which comes in the wake of the recent terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester and amid rising antisemitism.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Nobody should be forced to live a smaller life in this country because of their faith.
“The funding we have announced today will protect places of worship, faith-based schools, and community centres across the country. This government will never tolerate religious hatred or intimidation.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves added: “We are ensuring record funding to protect faith communities all across the UK.
“This goes further than cameras and alarms – it’s about restoring peace of mind and sending the message: religious persecution and intolerance have no place in Britain.”
The Home Office confirmed that up to £73.4 million will be available in 2026-2027 through the government’s protective security schemes for Jewish, Muslim, and other faith sites.
This funding will cover on-site security staff and equipment such as CCTV, fencing, intruder alarms, and floodlights.
Up to £28.4 million will be distributed through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, managed by the CST, for synagogues, Jewish schools, and community centres.
Last October, Keir Starmer announced that the Jewish and Muslim protective security schemes would receive an additional £10 million uplift in 2025-2026 to address increased threats.
The latest announcement confirms that these record funding levels will continue through next year.
A CST spokesperson awelcomed the additional funding, adding it was “a vital boost at a crucial time for the Jewish community, and is sadly much needed following the appalling Islamist terrorist attack in Manchester and at a time of heightened antisemitism.
“We will continue to work closely with government and community partners to ensure that this additional funding is used as effectively as possible to protect our community, while seeking longer-term ways to tackle the sources of this hatred and extremism.”
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