Are Places of Worship Exempt from Martyn’s Law?
Places of worship are not exempt from Martyn’s Law. They are, however, treated in a specific way that’s worth understanding in detail if you lead a church, mosque, synagogue, temple, gurdwara, or other faith premises.
The Specific Treatment
Under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, places of worship that would otherwise fall into Enhanced Tier (800 or more individuals reasonably expected on site from time to time) remain in Standard Tier.
That means:
- Places of worship with 200 to 799 individuals: Standard Tier (as for all Schedule 1 premises).
- Places of worship with 800 or more individuals: Standard Tier (by specific exception).
Other Schedule 1 premises with 800+ individuals move into Enhanced Tier. Places of worship don’t.
What Standard Tier Means for Places of Worship
Places of worship in Standard Tier, regardless of attendance, must:
- Prepare four public protection procedures: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, communications. Each specific to the premises.
- Train staff and volunteers on the procedures.
- Exercise the procedures in practice.
- Evidence the preparation, training, and exercising in a form the regulator can inspect.
What they don’t have to do (the Enhanced Tier duties they would otherwise face at 800+):
- Prepare public protection measures (physical and operational, deter/detect/delay/defend).
- Document a rationale for measures chosen.
Nominate a Responsible Person specifically under the Act.
Why the Exception Exists
Several structural features of places of worship shaped the specific treatment:
Open-door policies
Many places of worship maintain open access for prayer, reflection, or pastoral support outside formal service times. Requiring Enhanced Tier measures (which typically involve access control, physical infrastructure, or operational security postures) would conflict with the pastoral mission of the premises.
Volunteer governance
Most places of worship are governed by volunteers rather than paid professional staff. Enhanced Tier duties (Responsible Person, documented measures rationale) assume a level of professional governance that doesn’t reflect volunteer-led structures.
Resource profile
Faith communities vary widely in resource, from well-resourced large urban premises to tiny community premises running on volunteer time and donations. Enhanced Tier would disproportionately burden smaller faith premises.
The legitimate pastoral role
Places of worship serve distinct community functions beyond gathering people. The Act’s Standard Tier requirements (readiness procedures) are compatible with this pastoral role in a way Enhanced Tier measures typically aren’t.
The Test Is Primary Use, Not Tradition
The specific treatment applies across all places of worship, regardless of faith or tradition. It covers churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, gurdwaras, and other faith premises.
The Act is framed deliberately in that broad way. The test isn’t which tradition a premises belongs to. It’s whether the primary use of the premises is religious worship.
What It Doesn’t Mean
Three common misreadings are worth addressing:
- “Places of worship are exempt from Martyn’s Law.” No. Standard Tier duties apply in full.
- “Small places of worship don’t have to prepare.” If 200 or more individuals are reasonably expected from time to time, Standard Tier duties apply regardless of premises size.
“Places of worship can choose whether to prepare measures.” They can choose to adopt them as good practice, but the Act doesn’t require measures, a Responsible Person, or a documented rationale for places of worship.
Existing Security Arrangements
Some faith communities have existing security arrangements (for example, congregations that already work with the Community Security Trust or similar). These don’t substitute for Martyn’s Law preparation, but can be integrated with it: the governance structures, training cadence, and communications systems may carry across. What has to be purpose-built are the four Standard Tier procedures and the evidence layer specific to the Act.
Still Not Sure?
The fastest way to know is our free Am I in Scope? tool. A handful of questions, a clear answer, no account needed.
If you already know you’re in scope, Get Started with Prova Risk to prepare your public protection procedures, train your staff, and keep the evidence you’ll need if inspected. £399 per year per site.
