CST reports record number of volunteers

A record number of volunteers have signed up to help the Community Security Trust’s work in protecting Anglo-Jewry in the aftermath of anti-Semitic incidents.

Around 450 new recruits have swelled the charity’s ranks following the terror attacks in Paris and in Copenhagen, where a security guard was killed outside a synagogue while a barmitzvah celebration was taking place inside.

Jewish News understands this is more than double the usual number of recruits over the same period. CST director of communications Mark Gardner described the increase as “a strong response to the current levels of anti-Semitism and terrorist risk”.

He added: “CST can only be as strong as the communities it serves, because it’s our communities that provide our volunteers, our charitable funding and the co-operation we need to provide effective security.

“All security volunteers must be vetted and then fully trained before receiving their CST cards, so our training department has also been increased to meet this very welcome challenge.״

Gardner insisted however that more volunteers were always needed and urged those interested to contact their local CST office.

A record 1,100 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in the UK last year in the wake of the war in Gaza.