Martyn's Law for churches and places of worship

Places of worship · October 2026 · Aegis advisory team

Many churches and places of worship will fall within Martyn's Law because of a few very busy services each year. The duty is proportionate and largely about planning, briefing and practice.

What is Martyn's Law?

Martyn's Law is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It applies across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, and is expected to be enforced from spring 2027. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the regulator.

Is our church in scope?

Places of worship are a use covered by the Act. You are in scope if 200 or more people are reasonably expected to be present at the same time, from time to time. This is about your busiest realistic occasions, not average Sunday attendance.

• Christmas and Easter services, weddings, funerals and special services.
• Times when a service runs alongside other activity, such as a café, crèche or youth group.
• Volunteers count. Stewards, musicians, welcome teams and children's leaders are all included.
• Hirers count too. If another group hires your building for an event of more than 200, that can bring it into scope.

Who is responsible?

The responsible person is whoever has control of the premises. For most churches this will be the governing body rather than one individual, for example the select vestry, kirk session, parish council or trustees, depending on your denomination. That body notifies the SIA once the notification process opens.

If your congregation meets in a building owned by someone else, the building's main user is likely to hold principal responsibility. Talk to them about how the plan works on your days.

What a church has to do

Put public protection procedures in place, so far as is reasonably practicable, and make sure relevant staff and key volunteers understand them. There is no requirement to buy equipment or hire consultants.

1. Evacuation

Getting everyone out safely, including older members, people with mobility needs and children in other rooms.

2. Invacuation

Bringing people from the grounds or car park into a safer part of the building if the danger is outside.

3. Lockdown

Which doors can be secured, who holds the keys during a service, and where people should move away from windows and entrances.

4. Communication

How a steward alerts the minister or leader, who calls 999, and a calm form of words to tell the congregation what to do.

Making it work

• Brief your stewards and welcome team. They are your eyes and ears at the door.
• Keep it short and practical. A one-page plan that people actually read is better than a long document nobody remembers.
• Plan for the big days. Review arrangements before Christmas, Easter and large funerals.
• Brief hirers. Add a short Martyn's Law section to your hire agreement.
• Record your decisions. A brief note in the minutes shows what was considered and agreed.

Penalties

For standard tier premises, the SIA can issue fines of up to £10,000, with daily penalties for continued non-compliance. Its approach is expected to be advice and support first.

A simple plan for the next three months

1. List your busiest occasions and estimate peak numbers, including volunteers.
2. Confirm in the minutes who the responsible body is.
3. Walk the building with two or three stewards and draft the four procedures.
4. Brief stewards, staff and key volunteers.
5. Update your hire agreement.

Churches that never reach 200 have no legal duty under the Act, but the same simple steps are still worth taking.

This article is general information, not legal advice. It reflects the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and the Home Office statutory guidance published in April 2026. Check the current guidance, or speak to us, before relying on it for your own premises. Last updated October 2026.