Churches in England advised to hire bouncers to guard against terrorists
To prevent potential terrorist attacks, churches in England have been advised to hire bouncers to guard their doorsteps while church services are taking place. An adviser to England's Home Office drafted a 12-page guide after the recent murder of a French priest in Normandy.
The guide said the purpose of guards is to delay terrorists until the police arrive. The document also recommended guards to stay at the entrance before, during and after the service.
Nick Tolson, director of National Churchwatch, told Telegraph, "When the French church attack happened, there was a recognition that the risk has increased. The risk is still very low, however, we need to think about what we need to do."
Tolson added that smaller churches are more likely to be targeted by terrorists.
"It won't be Westminister Abbey or St Paul's, it will be a little church in Bolton or Birmingham. It's the small churches, just like the one in France. You can walk into any church on a Sunday morning and it probably won't be a gun, it will be a knife," he said.
The guide also recommended that churchgoers should be taught what to do if they see suspicious-looking characters. Churches were advised to install CCTV cameras, personal attack alarms and bolts on the church doors.
A vicar interviewed by Mirror Online said that members of the clergy were advised by Church officials to remove their dog collars in public to avoid attracting the attention of potential attackers. However, Tolson said there is no evidence that wearing collars will increase the risk of an attack.
In the event of an attack, Tolson advised churchgoers to run away from the immediate area. "We know now that if you hide for hours, they just walk around and shoot you," added Tolson.
The Home Office announced that a £2.4 million (around $2.6 million) fund will be available for the safety of churches. Mosques and temples are also free to bid for grants from the fund.
