UK metropolitan police launch unit to combat antisemitic hate crimes

The Metropolitan Police on Wednesday launched a dedicated Community Protection Team made up of an initial tranche of 100 extra officers to tackle rising antisemitic hate crimes in London.

The new team brings 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.

It follows a spate of anti-Jewish crimes in the UK capital, including last week’s terrorist attack in Golders Green that left two men with serious stab injuries.

“The creation of a new Community Protection Team of around 100 officers is an important step in strengthening our response to the sustained threats Jewish communities are facing,” said Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.

“It brings together experienced local officers who know their communities, supported by specialist capabilities, to provide more visible, consistent and intelligence-led protection. “A settled, long-term model built around local teams will be far more effective than repeated emergency responses, reducing risk and delivering lasting reassurance,” he said.

The force said it is already deploying an additional 1,000 officer shifts per week, relying on overtime and the short-term redeployment of officers from across London.

The UK’s police chief welcomed the government’s 18 million pounds funding, which has gone towards thousands of additional officer shifts at a time of “exceptional pressure”. But, he stressed, the problem requires long-term investment to sustain the policing response to the “growing threat” of antisemitism.

“We are working with (the) government and the Mayor (Sadiq Khan) to ensure the approach we are building can be sustained over time, not just for Jewish communities, but as a model that can support other communities across London when facing elevated risk,” added Mark Rowley.