Home Office renews £14m grant to Community Security Trust

The home secretary Priti Patel said antisemitic incidents are an attack “on everyone who believes in a free and open society”, as she renewed the Community Security Trust’s  (CST) annual £14 million grant this week.

The grant, first introduced in 2015 after terror attacks in Europe, is renewed each year by the Home Office after completing security assessments.

“This funding will help Jewish people practise their religion and way of life without fear of attack or persecution,” Patel said in a statement on Wednesday about the grant, which will help the CST cover security costs across Jewish institutions for the next financial year.

She added: “I’m pushing for greater integration across government, police and community groups to tackle antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head.

“I’m also keen to hear what more we can do to protect all faith communities, which is I have launched a consultation to hear your views on what further support the government can provide.”

The consultation, open to the public and organisations, ending next month, explores steps to protect places of worship from hate crime.

The CST’s chief executive David Delew said the grant “alleviates a serious financial security burden from Jewish communities across the country.”