Britain pledges over £250 million to protect Jewish communities amid rising antisemitism

Britain is allocating more than £250 million over the next three years to bolster the security of its Jewish communities, responding to a recent surge in antisemitic incidents. The government announced Monday that the funding will deploy over 500 additional police officers throughout England and Wales.

These new officers will enhance security in Jewish neighborhoods and around key institutions like schools, synagogues, and community centers. The initiative comes after a string of attacks, including the torching of four Jewish community ambulances in March and an antisemitic stabbing in north London in April, which prompted the UK to raise its national terrorism threat level to "severe."

The package includes significant allocations for specific regions, with London set to receive £86 million for its Metropolitan Police and £59 million earmarked for counter-terrorism policing. Around 300 additional officers will be deployed in London, and approximately 80 in Greater Manchester, where a synagogue was targeted last year. An additional £43 million is designated for police forces serving other areas with substantial Jewish populations.

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the rise in antisemitism "is a test of our values as a country." He emphasized that tackling it has been central to his leadership since taking office. Police will increase patrols during vulnerable periods to provide visible reassurance and deter hate crimes and antisemitic incidents.

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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.