Barnabas Fund have issued some advice on steps churches can look into by way of sensible protection
On 26 July, two teenagers influenced by Islamic State entered a Catholic church in a suburb of Rouen in northern France and murdered the priest, Father Jacques Hamel, who was giving morning Mass.
There are concerns that Christian churches of all kinds across Europe might become soft targets for terrorists. Here is some of the advice from Barnabas Fund.
A. Insurance
Check your church’s insurance policies to make sure that cover is adequate for your risk assessment. Check you have buildings, contents, vehicles, equipment and people covered. Note that insurance only helps repair the damage after an event, but this will help you recover rapidly and with minimum cost.
B. Data protection
How well protected is your data – church website, emails, electronic documents, membership rolls, names and addresses, telephone numbers, information about converts (especially from Islam)?
There are two major risks with data: theft and loss. Sensitive data that is stolen could be used to attack the church or people (e.g. the pastor or a convert), cause public embarrassment or cause any other nuisance.
C. Site security
How well protected and physically secure are the physical sites you operate? This is a question to consider not only from a health and safety viewpoint, but also in terms of protecting against theft, vandalism and attack.
• Do you own your sites or are they bor-rowed/rented e.g. a school? • Physical aspects of the site; construction material of the building, large amounts of glass in walls/ doors/windows (and danger of flying shards), measures you can take to improve resistance to attack. • Security of the various sites; walls and fences, secure doors and locks, CCTV and door intercom systems? • When are buildings open/locked? • Are internal offices/rooms locked when unused? • How do you control access? • How well are keys monitored and who has access to them? • Who is on site when buildings are open? Are they working alone? • Do you have alarm systems for intruders/fire? • Do you have adequate escape routes, as in case of fire? • How easily can the alarm be raised? How? With whom?
When considering security it is best to examine security measures from the outside and work inwards, i.e. from the external public areas, looking at perimeter security and then working inwards.
D. Information about your site
Be aware of what imagery exists online e.g. Google Street View, and what plans or photographs are in the public domain. Have you sought planning permission recently, and were plans distributed locally?
Street View imagery and similar can allow a person with hostile intent to obtain significant information that may assist in preparing an attack, whether that is terrorist or criminal in intent. The accessibility of publicly available internal imagery could add to attack planning capability if reasonable mitigation measures are not considered or implemented.
E. Evacuation plans
You should have clearly-signed evacuation routes, usually designed in case of fire. You may want to evaluate these for adequacy in case of another type of incident. • Do you have multiple alternative exit routes? • Are exit routes kept clear and adequately signposted? • Do you have suitable safe meeting points? • Do you have nominated persons in charge of escape procedures? • Do you have procedures to quickly call public authorities? • Do you have trained first aiders available?
F. Individual security plans
You may need to consider some thinking about personal security. This should in any case be a consideration for church leaders when taking care of the pastor, assistants, other staff and volunteers. You may be able to draw upon security skills/experience within the membership of the church.
• Working alone is always higher risk. • Individuals should have a mobile phone.
G. Training generally
The church leaders may want to have some awareness training themselves as they are ultimately responsible for oversight of the church and these issues of security, health and safety, care, training and activities.
H. Training ushers and stewards
Church ushers and stewards normally have little background in security or protection. However, you may have a police officer, a member of the military, a security worker, or a retiree from one of these fields, within your fellowship. Could they help in planning and training?
The role of steward is often thought of as being a friendly greeter. However ushers and stewards are partly responsible for security and safety of the fellowship. Certainly stewards are in the front line in that they are likely to be the first people to have to deal with a visitor, an intruder or a problem outside the building.
They are not expected to act as police officers and should protect their own safety. However, they should be observant and aware, able to assess situations and respond appropriately. The role requires a degree of balance; projecting a welcome for visitors yet with an awareness of potentially difficult or even dangerous situations.
Signs to look out for in an unknown visitor are various and there is no easy way to identify a potential aggressor. The following signs should cause concern, but be aware that there could also be innocent reasons for any of these behaviours.
• High energy, emotional state. • Terrorist attackers often stalk their target until the best opportunity to attack presents itself. Look out for people observing your building for a period before approaching. • If the attackers intend to flee the scene, they may have an accomplice loitering in a vehicle nearby with the engine running. • If you notice an individual who is paying a little too much covert attention to you or makes you uncomfortable for reasons you can’t totally explain, it is often best to share your concerns with others. • Be aware of people carrying bags or other items that could conceal weapons. • Be aware of unattended bags or other containers. • Is the person dressed inappropriately e.g. bulky clothing on a hot summer day?
Stewards must be realistic about a church or ministry environment. People can do strange things which are perfectly logical to them! Stewards should view themselves as part of a team and ideally should never deal with a dangerous situation alone – always in a two or three person group. Always get assistance before tackling someone you are concerned about. You need back-up, and a witness, if anything violent occurs.
