Martyn's Law for synagogues
Synagogues are named in the statutory guidance as places of worship, so they're always standard tier, even above 800. Many communities already have strong security arrangements. This page is about how Martyn's Law fits alongside them.
If a synagogue 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 synagogues
Count the High Holy Days
The test is the busiest occasion you can reasonably expect, staff and volunteers included. A community with 100 on Shabbat may pass 200 on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, at a large barmitzvah or a funeral. If it does, it's in scope.
Work with what you already have
Many synagogues already work with CST and have trained volunteers and procedures in place. Martyn's Law doesn't replace that. For most communities the job is checking the four procedures are covered and keeping a clear record of who's been briefed.
Simchas and hired-out halls
For weddings, kiddushim and community events, the governing body stays the responsible person. The guidance uses a synagogue as its own example: a hired 1,000-person concert there isn't a separate qualifying event, and a hire agreement can require the hirer to follow your procedures.
Halls, schools and offices
The sanctuary, hall, kitchen, classrooms, nursery or cheder rooms and offices all need covering by the same four procedures. Childcare and education settings have their own place in the Act, so check how yours are used.
Volunteers and rotas
Wardens, stewards and security volunteers change from week to week. The duty is that the people there know the procedures, so keep a record of who's been briefed and when.
Who the responsible person is
Usually the board of management, honorary officers or trustees, whoever has control of the building. In the guidance's own synagogue example, it's the governing body. Name the people actually doing the work.
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.
- CST, the Community Security Trust, for security advice and support for Jewish communities.
- The Home Office statutory guidance, published April 2026.
Look after a synagogue, or a group of communities? 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.