Martyn’s Law for churches and places of worship: does it apply, and what to do

Does Martyn’s Law apply to churches and places of worship?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 covers premises used for a listed purpose, in this case place of worship, where it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people, including staff, to be present at the same time from time to time. Places of worship are always standard tier when 200 or more people can be present at once, even if the building holds 800 or more. Count the biggest regular service or festival, not the average Sunday.

Churches and places of worship have a special rule: they are always standard tier once the 200 threshold is met, however large the building. The enhanced tier, with its documented measures and multi-million-pound penalties, does not apply to them.

Typical examples in scope:

• parish churches
• cathedrals
• mosques
• synagogues
• gurdwaras
• temples
• chapels and meeting houses

What you must do

The standard tier asks for three things, none of which cost money:

1. Notify the SIA. When the Act commences, expected spring 2027, the responsible person tells the Security Industry Authority they are responsible for the premises, through an online service the SIA is building. Nothing is submitted for approval.
2. Have four procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. The Act does not prescribe a document, but an inspector will ask to see what you have.
3. Make sure the people on duty know them. Staff, volunteers or hirers must be able to carry the procedures out quickly. A one-page briefing and a signed log is the practical way to show it.

There is no requirement for physical measures, security staff, CCTV or searches at the standard tier. The maximum penalty for non-compliance is £10,000.

What is different about churches and places of worship

• Open doors are part of worship. The Act does not ask you to close them; it asks you to know what you would do if something happened while they were open.
• Places of worship never fall into the enhanced tier, whatever their size. A cathedral with 1,500 at Easter has the same duties as a chapel with 200.
• Festivals, weddings and funerals bring in people who do not know the building. Communication has to work for a congregation that has never heard your announcements before.
• Many faith buildings have listed-building constraints. Lockdown procedures can rely on people and existing doors; nothing in the standard tier requires alterations.

Five steps before spring 2027

1. Set your capacity figure: the most people, including staff, at your biggest regular event.
2. Name the responsible person and one day-to-day lead. Write both down.
3. Walk the building and decide three places: the outside assembly point, the safest room inside, and which doors can be locked.
4. Generate the procedures pack, correct anything that does not match the building, and print it.
5. Brief everyone on duty with the one-page sheet, log it, and put a review date in the diary.

Open the free generator with church defaults .