Government announces major £250m funding commitment to help protect Britain’s Jews

The UK government has confirmed a £250 million funding commitment to increase policing and protection for Britain’s Jewish communities over the next three years.

The announcement, immediately welcomed by communal leaders,  follows a surge in antisemitic attacks that have left some in the community questioning their future in the country.

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the funding will deliver over 500 additional officers across England and Wales, boosting security in Jewish neighbourhoods, schools, synagogues, and community centres, while also strengthening national counter-terrorism capabilities. He called it “a step-change in protection and policing so Jewish communities can live and celebrate their faith free from fear.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves also hailed the a quarter of a billion-pound investment, telling Jewish News:””Being able to send your children to school, attend synagogue, and go about your daily lives without fear is not a privilege – it is a right, and we will defend it.”

The government’s announcement came after Jewish News recently raised concerns about the government’s funding commitment to properly protect the community, following the deadly Heaton Park Synagogue attacks in Greater Manchester, and the spate of attacks in London, including the Golders Green stabbing and arson attacks.

The £251million of funding will be split across policing priorities to tackle antisemitism including:

• A further £86 million to the Metropolitan Police which will fund around 300 additional officers to increase police presence in Jewish communities
• Over £22 million to Greater Manchester Police to sustain the increase in policing presence following the tragic attack in Heaton Park last year
• Around £43 million to be distributed across 7 other force areas with significant Jewish communities: Hertfordshire, Essex, Northumbria, Sussex, Thames Valley, West Midlands and West Yorkshire
• £41 million for national policing coordination and increased antisemitism capabilities. This will fund antisemitism training for all officers in England and Wales, strengthen investigations and ensure surge resources are available to all forces to protect Jewish communities, wherever they live.
• £59 million to Counter-Terrorism Police to bolster protective security and counter state threats.

In one of his final acts as PM, 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 coordinated 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.”

Writing for Jewish News, the Chancellor, whose future in the role under new PM Andy Burnham is unclear, added: “The poison of antisemitism has no place in our country, and this Government will always stand with our Jewish communities.

“Today’s announcement is a vital funding commitment to protect Jewish communities – over £250 million across the next three years.

“Being able to send your children to school, attend synagogue, and go about your daily lives without fear is not a privilege – it is a right, and we will defend it.

“This money will see more officers on the streets, a stronger and more visible police presence around synagogues and schools, and stronger protection at community sites to ensure the Jewish community can live their lives peacefully.

“Antisemitism will not be tolerated. We will confront it at every turn.”

The Home Office said the cash boost will see £250 million spread out across the next three years, providing Jewish communities with a major boost in protection and fund efforts to root out antisemitism across society, focusing on education, building cohesion and countering extremism.

It will deliver more than 500 additional officers across England and Wales, including around 300 additional officers in London and around 80 in Greater Manchester, along with more officers for forces serving other areas with significant Jewish populations.

The package will also continue Project Servator, deploying specialist and plain-clothes officers trained to identify suspicious behaviour and prevent serious crime.

Mark Gardner, Community Security Trust Chief Executive, said: “This serious increase in policing and government support comes not a moment too soon, because this is a critical time for the future of British Jews.

“CST and our many communal partners will keep working with police and government to ensure that these deployments are as effective as possible.

“We thank everyone who plays their part in the continuing struggle against anti-Jewish racism and terrorism, all of which threatens society as a whole.”

Board of Deputies Vice President Karen Newman added, “We warmly welcome the government’s announcement of this major investment in policing to protect the Jewish community, and we are grateful for the commitment and work of all in government, from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer down, to ensure our safety.”

“Protection is one element of the response we called for after the recent wave of antisemitic violence, alongside prosecution of those inciting hatred, and partnership to tackle antisemitic extremism.”

While Russell Langer, Director of Public Affairs at the Jewish Leadership Council added: “After the deadly terrorist attack against a synagogue in Manchester and the stabbings in Golders Green, this is an important step in ensuring increased protection for Jewish communities in the UK.

“Security and policing alone cannot address the fact that anti-Jewish hatred remains at record levels in modern Britain. Ensuring Jewish communities can live openly and without fear requires sustained effort, leadership and action.

“We will continue to work with government and law enforcement to ensure communities receive protection they need.”

This announcement follows a commitment earlier this year by the government of a £25 million fund to provide immediate protection for Jewish communities.

The new London police funding is in addition the £18 million funding the Met has already received, taking the Met’s funding to over £100 million.

Teams – known as Community Protection Teams – will be a dedicated force funded by Government funding,  bringing together neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counter terrorism capabilities.

They will aim to provide a more visible, intelligence led and coordinated presence focused on protecting Jewish communities across London. The teams will launch today.

The Home Office said that by making this longer-term commitment, police forces will be able to deliver more high-visibility patrols and stronger local engagement in areas with significant Jewish populations, including around synagogues and schools over the next three years.

Patrols will be increased at times of heightened vulnerability, offering visible reassurance and helping to deter hate crime and antisemitic incidents.

Officers will also work more closely with Jewish communities through permanent presence in significant Jewish communities across the country, strengthening relationships with representative groups and places of worship.

Met Police Deputy Commissioner, Matt Jukes said: “Jewish communities are facing an exceptional threat with rising hate crime alongside terrorism and interference from hostile states. We thank the Home Office for this vital funding which is set to strengthen our ability to protect those most at risk and relentlessly pursue those driven by hate. ”

Policing Minister Sarah Jones said: “After a series of appalling attacks against Jewish communities, the difficult decision was made to raise the threat level to severe. My thoughts remain with the victims of these vile attacks.

“Today we are going further and providing record funding to help keep Jewish people safe, supporting visible policing and protection around synagogues, schools and community centres.

“We will do everything in our power to rid society of the evil of antisemitism.”

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said: “At a time when the terrorist threat level has increased and we’re operating at an incredibly high tempo, today’s announcement is hugely welcome.

“Increased funding will help contribute significantly to our work to counter the full spectrum of threats to our national security.

“It will also help us play our part in tackling antisemitism in our communities, alongside local policing and the wider criminal justice system.”

Danny Stone MBE, CEO, Antisemitism Policy Trust, added: “This announcement is hugely welcome, and we are grateful in particular to the Policing Minister for her steadfast opposition to anti-Jewish racism.

“The increase in policing is commensurate with the threat posed to Jewish communities across the UK and beyond, and we are pleased the Government is seeking to do its best to keep the Jewish community safe.”