LONDON – The Metropolitan Police has established a new Community Protection Team comprising 100 additional officers, a move intended to bolster security for London's Jewish community following a marked increase in antisemitic attacks. This dedicated unit will initially focus on antisemitic threats but is envisioned as a template for safeguarding other communities experiencing surges in hate-related crimes.
The deployment follows a series of recent incidents, including attacks on synagogues, a Jewish ambulance service, and a memorial wall in Golders Green. Counter-terrorism police are also investigating a suspected arson at a former synagogue in Whitechapel. The Metropolitan Police stated the new team will integrate officers from neighborhood policing, specialist protection units, and those with counter-terrorism expertise, aiming for a visible, intelligence-led, and coordinated presence.
"We are working with the government and the mayor 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."
The announcement coincides with broader efforts to address hate crimes. The chief prosecutor for England and Wales has issued updated guidance aimed at accelerating hate crime prosecutions. Recent arrests have been made in connection with racially and religiously aggravated offenses, including incidents involving threats and criminal damage.
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This initiative comes as the force's chief had previously indicated a need for around 300 more officers to adequately address the rise in antisemitism across the capital. The new team's composition emphasizes officers who are "locally based, understand their communities, and have strong relationships with residents, schools, faith leaders and volunteers." The police are seeking a long-term, sustainable funding arrangement to enhance resilience across London.
In tandem, proposed legislation could allow the UK to designate foreign proxy groups involved in such attacks, potentially imposing severe penalties on individuals acting on their behalf. This broader legislative context aims to strengthen measures against state-linked threats, including antisemitic violence. The Metropolitan Police has committed to relentlessly pursuing offenders and disrupting threats while protecting communities.
