How to Secure a House of Worship

Introduction

When you think of a haven within your community you are likely to think of the local houses of worship (HoW) or faith-based organizations (FBO). These traditionally have open-door policies and welcome all who enter with very few questions. Unfortunately, this openness and political climate have seen an increase in violent attacks and cyber-attacks against HoW and FBO.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released a security guide created based on data from 10 years of targeted attacks on HoW; in this research, CISA observed a discernible increase in incidents from 2015 to 2019. 

Commonly, the culture of FBOs does not focus on security, and they do not have the resources for full-time security staffing which puts them at risk for victimization. 

Tactics and Methodology of Attacks

It is important before creating any security program to understand the specific tactics and methods used to target that organization. 

When looking at historical data from HoW incidents, 22% of attackers had a prior association with the organization. In creating an effective security program, the goal is to be proactive with the ability to detect a potential threat early rather than reactive.  It is important that the leadership team understand how their congregation is engaging within their programs and the entire team has open communication and a good understanding of situational intelligence and behavioral indicators.

In most violent attacks behavioral indicators are often observed before the attack but not acted upon. In the cases studied by CISA 57% of the attackers engaged in pre-attack planning activity that revealed their intent to attack and 19% posted about their intent to attack in an online forum. Along with behaviors the increase in attendance during seasonal times at HoWs affect attacks as well. 22% of attacks studied took place during periods of increased attendance. 

Having a staff that is trained in recognizing these red flags, the way to articulate what they saw without bias, and having a plan in place to deal with these reports is extremely important.

What is Comprehensive Security

When HoWs think of their environment that they want to convey a welcoming environment and secure environment do not have to be independent of each other. A welcoming environment includes a safe and secure environment for their congregation.

·        Committee - To get started in creating a comprehensive security plan HoWs can start by creating a security committee. Having a diverse background is important in this committee; you should especially look for members with law enforcement, psychology, military, security, and educational backgrounds. 

·        Technology - Many HoWs feel that they have a security system in place and with that technology they need to do no more. A security system has its own set of flaws and if it is not set up properly and monitored then that money could have been used elsewhere.

·        Relationships – It is important to build relationships with the community first responders before they are responding to an incident at your location. It allows them to become familiar with your location and leadership team. 

How to Build a Security Framework

When considering a security program for your organization you should pose the following questions to the security committee that you put together. 

·        What threats and vulnerabilities do you face?

·        What is the likelihood of a given threat occurring?

·        What are the consequences of those threats?

·        What is your community’s tolerance for those consequences?

·        What is your community’s attitude toward security?

·        What personnel resources do you have to oversee security operations?

·        What is your budget to support security?

When asking these questions, you should schedule a physical security assessment to help you clarify your answers. When having an assessment done be sure to utilize a security professional that specializes in physical security assessments, and they should be talking with the key stakeholders. A thorough accurate assessment will look at all administration buildings, worship facilities, schools, remote workers, and all processes that are critical to your organization.

Once the vulnerability assessments are completed the HoW can start prioritizing and addressing their unique security challenges. It is recommended that your security program have:

·        Emergency Action Plan

·        Active Shooter Plan

·        Business Continuity Plan

·        Incident Management Plan

·        Short-term Recovery Plan

·        Long-term Recovery Plan

A security plan cannot exist only on paper. Training that focuses on human interaction is incredibly important and should be provided internally as well as offered to community members if possible. This provides a defense-in-depth strategy for your security program. Policies, practices, and behaviors build layers of security throughout your facility. If funding is a concern, there are grants available through FEMA Grand Funding for not-for-profit organizations.

Conclusion

Houses of Worship are targeted, and research shows the number of attacks is increasing with no signs of slowing down. By understanding the threats and vulnerabilities your organization faces you can create a successful holistic security program to mitigate those risks and threats.

Takeaways

1.      Houses of Worship can be both welcoming and secure.

2.      Effective security is customized to your organization’s needs.

3.      Comprehensive security requires community involvement and building relationships.

4.      Security is continuous. Performing annual security and risk assessments will ensure your program and emergency plans are up to date.