Met Police figures show 61 percent increase in anti-Semitic crime

There has been a 61percent increase in anti-Semitic crime in the past 12 months according to the latest statistics released by the Met Police.
 
A total of 483 anti-Semitic crimes were committed up until November 2015, increasing from 299 crimes from November 2014. 
 
Hotspots included Westminster where there was a 178 percent increase, the London Borough of Hackney where there were 122 crimes, Tower Hamelts which had a 100 percent rise and Lambeth which had a 200percent increase.

Speaking to the Jewish News, the Met police said they are “committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms”, adding that they “take positive action to investigate all hate crime allegations, support victims and their families and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Reflecting on the figures, they said “there has been a rise in faith/religious hate crime, however the MPS believes these increases are down to a range of factors, including the improvements in crime recording, a growing willingness of victims to report hate crime; and an improved awareness of MPS staff to identify these offences. 

They continued by trying to reassure the community, saying: “We continue to speak regularly with local synagogues, and also work closely with organisations representing different faiths regarding hate crime issues, such as the Community Security Trust [CST] for anti-Semitic hate crime.

In light of continuing world events, we know communities in London are feeling anxious. Safer Neighbourhood Teams are providing a more targeted presence in key areas at key times, such as school routes, prayer times and holy days to give extra reassurance. “

CST told Jewish News: ““Any rise in antisemitic hate crimes is of concern. We hope that this reflects improved confidence amongst victims and witnesses to report hate crimes to the Police as well as any rise in the number of hate crimes taking place. It is a reminder that there remains a serious problem of antisemitic hate crime that we are working closely with the Police to try to tackle.”

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, President of Stamford Hill Shomrim which operates in parts of north London which has seen a rise in anti-Semitic crime commented: “It is of deep concern, to note a steep rise of Anti-Semitic hate crime in Hackney over the 12 months to November ’15 , and similar rises in hate attacks against other minority communities.

Whilst this might be explained by some as being a result of better reporting, it still demonstrates the depth and persistence of this grave problem, which needs to be urgently and properly dealt with.”

Jonathan Sacerdoti, Director of Communications at Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Since our inception we have pushed for zero tolerance of antisemitism under the law. It is vital that people report all incidents whether they are witnesses or victims. The rise in recorded antisemitic crimes is worrying, but by better highlighting these crimes, we have encouraged the authorities to take firmer action than they have in the past, in cases from that of Nazi sympathising school teacher Mahmudul Choudhury, who was convicted and then banned from teaching for life in proceedings we instigated, to the sentencing of antisemitic propagandist Joshua Bonehill-Paine to more than three years following our prevention of the ‘Anti-Jewification’ rally in Golders Green that he inspired.”

A spokesperson from Hope NOT hate told Jewish News: “There are still far too many anti-Semitic, as well as anti-Muslim, incidents in our capital.