Jewish communities across the UK are set to receive stronger protection against shocking antisemitic attacks with a fresh £1 million boost to funding and the launch of a new police taskforce. This plan aims to crack down on hate crimes targeting synagogues, faith schools, and Jewish individuals.
From 2023 to 2024, synagogues and faith schools will benefit from £15 million allocated for safety upgrades, which is £1 million more than the previous year. The funding will support security guards, CCTV, alarms, and other essential measures to address ongoing threats from hate crime, anti-social behaviour, terrorism, and state threats.
A new Jewish Community Police, Crime and Security Taskforce will be established, chaired by the Home Secretary. This group, involving top police chiefs, ministers, the Community Security Trust (CST), and other key stakeholders, will meet regularly to enhance accountability and improve efforts against antisemitic violence and crime. The taskforce will focus on policing strategy, terrorism, hate crime, and public order.
The taskforce’s first meeting, scheduled for late spring, will review current policing guidance, including measures to tackle antisemitic chants, banners, and symbols. It will also ensure that police and prosecutors take decisive action against offenders threatening the Jewish community.
These initiatives follow concerning Home Office statistics showing that although Jewish people make up less than 1% of the UK population, nearly a quarter of religious hate crimes in 2021-22 were directed at them.
The Home Secretary announced these measures at the Community Security Trust’s annual dinner on 29 March.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “Antisemitism is one of the great evils in the world. It is vital that all people, but especially political leaders, challenge antisemitism whenever and wherever they encounter it. Attacks on the Jewish community are abhorrent. I applaud the police’s efforts to tackle these crimes, but we must go further to ensure the vile criminals who threaten the peace and safety of Jewish communities feel the full force of the law. I am proud to be working closely with the Community Security Trust and colleagues in policing and beyond to help protect the UK’s Jewish community, go after antisemitic offenders, and stamp out racism in all its forms.”
Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat added: “Antisemitism is abhorrent and I stand hand in hand with the Jewish community against all its manifestations. We must continue to strive to ensure that every community can live and worship in safety, free from threat.”
CST Chief Executive Mark Gardner MBE said: “This announcement by the Home Secretary is hugely welcome, given the continuing threats of terrorism and antisemitism that are faced by British Jews. CST will continue to do everything we can in partnership with the Home Office so as to ensure the best possible security for Jewish schools, synagogues and communities throughout the country.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Hate Crime, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “It is vital that all citizens are able to live their lives free from targeted abuse, and the NPCC supports this funding to help reduce antisemitic hostility suffered by Jewish people in the UK. The right to live free from targeted abuse is a fundamental right that we all share and we will continue to work to bring offenders to justice. I would encourage anyone who suffers such a crime to report it, either to the police or to the CST. In an emergency, always call 999.”
The Home Secretary will also send letters to all Home Office bodies, chief constables, police commissioners, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing, and the Crown Prosecution Service. She will reaffirm the government’s backing of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and encourage its wider adoption.
Since 2015, the government has allocated a total of £122 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to keep Jewish communities safe.
Originally published by UKNIP.
