MEND STATEMENT: MEND Welcomes £10m Protection Pledge for Mosques, but More Must be Done to Tackle Islamophobia’s Root Causes

MEND welcomes the government’s announcement of an additional £10 million to protect mosques, Muslim faith centres and schools across the UK through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme. This investment, which gives funding for CCTV, alarm systems, fencing and security personnel, is a vital step toward ensuring Muslim communities can worship and gather without fear.

However, while we welcome the funding, it is both long overdue and delivered in response to a far-right threat that has been building for far too long. Recent Home Office figures show anti-Muslim hate crimes increased by 19% in the year to March 2025, the sharpest rise among all religious groups.

The urgency of the moment cannot be overstated: in 2025 alone we have already seen multiple attacks against mosques across the country. For example, a harrowing arson attack on a mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, where masked attackers sprayed accelerant and set the building ablaze with people inside. Earlier this year, a Nazi-inspired individual was arrested after planning a terrorist attack against the Inverclyde Muslim Centre in Scotland, while in September the South Essex Islamic Centre in Basildon was vandalised in a racially-motivated incident. These events underscore the very real and escalating risk that Muslim worshippers and faith institutions face.

We therefore call on the government to move swiftly, transparently and equitably: this new £10 million must reach every mosque and faith centre without delay. In the past mosques have had to prove they are vulnerable or have been previously attacked to obtain such funding. This must be removed and the process simplifies and streamlined to acknowledge that ALL mosques are vulnerable and need protection.

Furthermore, this funding must only be part of a broader government strategy that not only fortifies buildings but tackles the root causes of Islamophobia. This must be done through the adoption of a comprehensive definition of Islamophobia, education, accountability and meaningful engagement with Muslim communities, including grassroots Muslim civil society organisations.

MEND stands ready to work with government and law enforcement to turn this overdue investment into lasting safety, dignity and equality for all Muslims in Britain. Simultaneously, we warn government against using this funding to further entrench biased and discredited counter terror infrastructure in Muslim communities.