Antisemitic Hate Crime Reports at Two-Year High in London

Antisemitic hate crime reports to the Metropolitan Police have reached a two-year high, with the force receiving an average of three to four reports each day. In the 12 months leading up to the end of July, London recorded 1,379 antisemitic offences, a 25% increase compared to the previous year. This rise has led to heightened concerns within the Jewish community, particularly as the High Holy Days approach.

Recent Incidents and Community Concerns

The past year has seen a series of incidents that have deeply affected Jewish Londoners. In the spring, arson attacks targeted Jewish people and property, including ambulances belonging to the Hatzola emergency medical service. In April, two Orthodox Jewish men were stabbed as they left morning prayers in Golders Green. These events, alongside a national terror threat level increase to severe in April, have contributed to a sense of vulnerability. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described the past 12 months as an 'annus horribilis' for many Jewish Londoners, citing anxieties about perceived dangers becoming reality.

Tami Isaacs Pearce, who runs Karma Bread Bakery in north London, noted the increased importance of family gatherings during holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as the community reflects on the past year's troubles. She expressed a hope for positive change, stating, 'It's been really, really hard. Really, really hard. And we are just hoping that things will change, we really are.'

Metropolitan Police Response and Funding

In response to the rising hate crime figures, the Metropolitan Police announced in July that it would receive £86 million in government funding. This money is designated for the recruitment of additional officers to enhance police presence in Jewish neighbourhoods, as well as around synagogues, schools, and community centres. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes stated that this funding would allow the force to establish three new teams across the capital, comprising over 250 officers. These teams are intended to work in partnership with the Community Security Trust and the volunteer Jewish civilian patrol group Shomrim.

Jukes highlighted that the new community protection teams are being set up to provide a long-term focus on specific areas, rather than drawing officers from across London. He described the initiative as a potential 'blueprint for how policing responds when tensions rise' in other communities facing spikes in hate crime. The Met has also increased police presence around mosques in London following an alleged terror plot targeting two mosques in Sutton.

Rabbi Gabriel Botnick of Belsize Square Synagogue acknowledged that while some members of the community remain concerned about security, the increased police presence is welcome. He noted that a degree of background vigilance has been a long-standing aspect of Jewish life, with some individuals historically adapting their behaviour or appearance to conceal their identity.