Police confirm abusive synagogue call not logged as antisemitic incident

A royal commission in Australia investigating antisemitism has scrutinized the relationship between police and Jewish community security organizations. The inquiry, which recently concluded its fifth hearing block in Melbourne, focused on how police collect data, conduct security risk assessments, and prepare for threats against the Jewish community.

Victoria Police faced particular examination regarding its recording of antisemitic incidents. Assistant Commissioner Martin O'Brien confirmed that an abusive phone call to a synagogue, where the congregation was allegedly called "genocidal" and "maggot rat Jews," was not logged as a prejudice-motivated incident, despite protocol requiring such logs for crimes motivated by racial, political, or ideological circumstances. A separate incident involving a large Nazi symbol painted on a construction site also bypassed the relevant reporting system.

Security funding emerged as a dominant theme throughout the week's hearings. Jewish community leaders informed the commission that families, schools, places of worship, and community organizations continue to bear a significant portion of the costs for ensuring their safety. Government funding since 2023 has reportedly covered about half the security expenses for the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which distributed $25 million to various organizations. However, demand for these funds far outstripped supply, with over 160 applications seeking a combined $42 million in that year alone.

Leaders are calling for governments to fully reimburse the council for all security expenses, emphasizing the ongoing financial burden. The commission's findings are expected to shape future responses to antisemitic conduct and inform the government's approach to community security.

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automatic scanning every day of incidents, along with human analysts to consider threats.