A sweeping new security push will funnel more than £250 million (€293.38m) into policing around Jewish communities, after a string of violent incidents and a rise in antisemitic hate crime, the UK government has announced, saying the goal is to ensure “Jewish communities can live and celebrate their faith free from fear”.
The funding is set to drive a visible ramp-up in protection, with increased patrols and police presence, plus enhanced security outside synagogues and schools. It will also place specialist plain-clothes officers within Jewish neighbourhoods, adding another layer of coverage aimed at deterring attacks and reassuring residents.
The announcement comes amid a troubling run of incidents, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, in April, and an arson attack at a former synagogue in Whitechapel, central London, in May. In April, the national terror threat level was raised from substantial to severe, as concerns about extremist violence intensified.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has framed the response as both a security imperative and a national test, saying tackling antisemitism “has been central to my leadership from day one”.
The package will deliver more than 500 additional officers across England and Wales, including around 300 additional officers in London and around 80 in Greater Manchester, with further reinforcements for forces in other areas that have significant Jewish populations.
It also keeps Project Servator in place, continuing deployments of specialist and plain-clothes officers trained to spot suspicious behaviour and stop serious crime before it escalates.
‘A step-change in protection’
Mr Starmer said: “The rise in antisemitism we have seen in recent years is a test of our values as a country and tackling it has been central to my leadership from day one.
“That is why earlier this year, I brought together leaders from business, education, health, policing and civil society at Downing Street to drive a co-ordinated response across every corner of our society.
“We have also taken action across government to protect Jewish communities, tackle antisemitism in schools, universities and public services and strengthen our response to extremism and hate, including online.
“Today’s funding builds on that work – delivering a step-change in protection and policing so Jewish communities can live and celebrate their faith free from fear.”
More than £2m2m (€25.82m) will go to Greater Manchester Police to sustain the increase in policing presence following the terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue last October.
And around £43m (€50.46m) is to be distributed across seven other force areas with significant Jewish communities: Hertfordshire, Essex, Northumbria, Sussex, Thames Valley, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
The Home Office said a further £86m (€100.92m) will go to the Metropolitan Police, while £41m (€48.1m) will be spent on national policing co-ordination and increased antisemitism capabilities to fund antisemitism training for all officers in England and Wales.
Meanwhile £59m (€69.24m) will go to Counter-Terrorism Police to bolster protective security and counter state threats.
