UK — The Muslim Council of Britain released a national security and preparedness framework for mosques, trustees, and volunteers on June 18, 2025. The guidance was issued in response to rising anti-Muslim hate crimes and recent civil unrest across the UK.

The framework advises mosques to conduct lockdown drills, enhance CCTV coverage, and strengthen relationships with police. It includes initial recommendations such as appointing a dedicated safety lead, performing a walkthrough security assessment, identifying CCTV blind spots, and establishing clear lockdown and "hold and secure" procedures. The guidance covers lockdown procedures, emergency response planning, incident reporting systems, and measures to strengthen ties with local authorities and police forces.

The Muslim Council of Britain warned its nearly 500 affiliated mosques and community centers to remain vigilant. The organization noted that places of worship and community centers faced threats from vandalism, intimidation, and targeted hostility. The guidance sets out a phased roadmap for improving security over three, 12, and 36 months, identifying common vulnerabilities such as a lack of named safety officers, weak links with police, uncontrolled access points, poor lighting, and volunteers being uncertain of emergency response protocols.

Wajid Akhter, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the guidance was not solely about installing physical barriers. "It is about empowering our communities to remain vigilant, to build strong local relationships and allies, and to have the structure in place to respond," Akhter said. The framework encourages mosques to establish stronger relationships with neighbors, local businesses, councillors, and other faith groups. Imams were encouraged to use Friday sermons to share messages of hope, unity, and resilience.

Home Office figures released in October indicated that recorded hate crime in England and Wales was increasing for the first time in three years, including increases in racially and religiously motivated offenses. Anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales rose from 2,690 to 3,199 offenses in the 12 months leading up to March 2025. Approximately 3.9 million people in England and Wales identify as Muslim.

The Muslim Council of Britain conducted an anonymous survey following recent disorder in Northern Ireland. Threats identified in the guidance include graffiti, vandalism, arson attempts, abuse and intimidation at entrances, suspicious individuals near premises, threats during prayer times, and bomb threats or suspicious packages. Survey respondents reported incidents such as an attack on an imam's home in Bolton and racist riots in Belfast. One respondent stated, "I am deathly worried that our mosque will be attacked and burned in the middle of the night whilst me, my husband and my girls are sleeping upstairs and we can't get out in time." Another respondent noted that a Muslim hijabi woman was recently chased by racists on her way to work, but a passerby helped her get into a car and to safety. A respondent said support for those affected by anti-Muslim hate crime had been limited. Another respondent said, "Many of us feel unsafe going out to work, shop, or carry out normal day-to-day activities because of racist targeting and intimidation."

No independent assessment was available for this report.