The Metropolitan Police has announced the formation of a new community protection team comprising 100 additional officers to safeguard London’s Jewish community.
This initiative comes despite the force’s chief previously saying that 300 more officers were needed to tackle the rise in antisemitism across the capital.
The force confirmed that in its initial phase, the new team will be “primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community, which faces some of the highest levels of hate crime alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats”.
It added that the unit would bring together "neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counter terrorism capabilities" to provide a "more visible, intelligence‑led and coordinated presence focused on protecting Jewish communities across London".
This move follows a series of concerning incidents, including arson attacks at Jewish sites in London since late March, as well as a double stabbing in Golders Green that is being treated as an act of terrorism.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley had previously underscored the need for 300 extra police officers across London, warning of a growing "pandemic" of antisemitism in the UK.
Counter-terrorism police are currently investigating a suspected arson at a former synagogue in Nelson Street, Whitechapel, that took place in the early hours of Tuesday.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “British Jews now appear on the hate lists of every major extremist movement: extreme right‑wing groups, Islamist terrorists, elements of the extreme left and hostile state actors.
“It is a deeply concerning convergence, and Jewish communities are living with the consequences of that risk daily.
“This focus does not mean the Metropolitan Police is deprioritising other communities. Hate crime in all its forms – including ongoing efforts to tackle racism, anti‑Muslim hate crime, homophobia and other forms of hatred in the capital – remains a core policing priority.”
The Home Office is backing the Met’s action with £18 million, and a further £4 million will be made available through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to help support community-led and charity work.
“We will do everything in our power to rid society of the evil of antisemitism,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said.
At the same time, England and Wales’s chief prosecutor has issued fresh guidance in an effort to fast-track hate crime prosecutions.
Director of public prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson told the Press Association he hoped to “put a line in the sand” and stop an “uptick” in antisemitic behaviour.
“It seems there is a pattern of copycat antisemitism taking place,” he said.
Issuing the new guidance, Mr Parkinson told prosecutors that “any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently” once the evidential threshold for a charge is met.
And Sir Keir on Tuesday hosted a roundtable of senior figures from the police, the arts, higher education, trade unions and businesses.
He said universities will be expected to “demonstrate action” to tackle antisemitism among students, as part of a “zero tolerance” approach on campuses.
The Arts Council will also be expected to withdraw funding and claw it back from anyone who is found to promote antisemitism.
Turning to potential foreign backers of antisemitic attacks, Sir Keir said the Government was “fast-tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats”.
He said: “One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents.
“We are investigating, of course, all the possibilities.
“And we are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.
“Our message to Iran or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society is that it will not be tolerated.”
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