Martyn's Law for Hindu temples
Hindu temples are named in the statutory guidance as places of worship, so a mandir is always standard tier, however many people come. Here's what that means for how a mandir runs.
If a mandir can reasonably expect 200 or more people at the same time on its busiest occasion, counting staff and volunteers, it's in scope. Places of worship are always standard tier, even above 800. That means procedures for what to do in an attack, people on duty who know them, and notifying the SIA. Writing the procedures down is recommended. You don't need CCTV, barriers, bag searches or security staff.
What's different for Hindu temples
Count Diwali, not a normal weekday
The test is the busiest occasion you can reasonably expect, priests, staff and volunteers included. A mandir that's quiet midweek can pass 200 at Diwali, Navratri, Janmashtami, Holi or a large wedding. If it does, it's in scope.
Garba nights and festivals in hired halls
The "always standard tier" rule only covers premises whose main use is worship. Navratri garba or Diwali events in a school hall, leisure centre or town hall don't get it. The venue's own position and the rules for events apply, so agree who's responsible before the night.
The hall, kitchen and shrine rooms
The main mandir, community hall, kitchen, classrooms and any shop all need covering by the same four procedures. A packed hall during aarti or a festival meal needs its own thought for evacuation and for getting everyone's attention.
Volunteers and languages
Most mandirs run on sevaks and volunteers who change from one event to the next. Brief them in the language they're most comfortable with, such as Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi or Tamil, and keep a note of who's been briefed and when.
When the hall is hired out
For weddings, community functions and hired events, the trustees or committee stay the responsible person. The guidance says a hire agreement can require the hirer to follow your procedures, so add a line to yours.
Who the responsible person is
Usually the trustees or management committee, whoever has control of the building. Name the people actually doing the work, and hand it over properly when trustees change.
What to do, step by step
- Work out your busiest occasion and whether it reaches 200.
- Agree who the responsible person is, by name.
- Notify the SIA once the notification process is set out.
- Agree the four procedures: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. Start from the free ProtectUK templates and write them down.
- Brief everyone who'd be on duty, and keep a note of who and when.
- Walk through them now and then, and review them when the building or the team changes.
The 8-step roadmap covers each of these in more detail, with what the law requires and what's only recommended.
Free help
- ProtectUK, for procedure templates and the free ACT Awareness course. ACT is recommended, not a legal requirement.
- ACT in a BOX, free scenario-based exercises your team works through together.
- The Home Office statutory guidance, published April 2026.
Look after a mandir, or a group of temples? We're taking on a small number of free pilots with faith networks while the product is built. Talk to us, or see how places of worship are treated in general.
This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Governance differs between communities, so establish properly who holds the duty rather than assuming. Musterlog doesn't make anyone compliant, and no product is endorsed by the Home Office or the SIA.
Primary sources: the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and the statutory guidance.