Only one in 18 antisemitic rail crimes leads to action against offender
Jewish groups warn train network must not become a “no-go zone” as new figures reveal low enforcement rates
Only one in 18 antisemitic crimes reported on Britain’s rail network last year resulted in a charge, caution or other formal outcome, according to figures obtained by The Telegraph.
The figures, covering the year to 30 April 2026, have prompted concern among Jewish organisations amid continuing high levels of antisemitism across the UK.
Data obtained by the newspaper showed there were only 10 arrests linked to antisemitic incidents on the rail network during the same period.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism told The Telegraph: “By not tackling anti-Semitism head-on, you send a message that Jews are fair game.
“Our polling shows that a staggering 70 percent of British Jews would not feel comfortable physically or verbally disclosing their Jewish identity on public transport. BTP must ensure that transport in Britain does not become a no-go zone for Jews.”
The figures come at a time of heightened concern about the safety of British Jews. In April, two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green in an attack being investigated by Counter Terrorism Policing. The same month saw a series of suspected arson attacks affecting Jewish-linked sites in north London, including an attempted attack on Finchley Reform Synagogue, a fire at a former Jewish charity building in Hendon and damage to a cabinet beside the Golders Green memorial wall.
Last month, Metropolitan Police figures showed antisemitic hate crimes in London had risen sharply, while the government announced an additional £25 million in security funding for Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres following the Golders Green attack.
Before Hamas’s 7 October 2023 massacre in Israel, around 70 antisemitic incidents were typically reported to British Transport Police each year. The latest figures indicate that number has more than tripled.
Earlier this year, the Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents nationwide during 2025, the second-highest annual total ever recorded by the organisation.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, criticised the low number of arrests, telling The Telegraph: “This is an abject failure. Anti-Semitism, often perpetrated by Islamist extremists, is a scourge that leaves our Jewish community feeling unsafe on the streets. Just ten arrests is pathetic.
“When it comes to policing tweets, there is no such reticence. With anti-semitic attacks on the rise, we need better from the police. The Palestine marches, where many people have freely displayed anti-semitic content, have helped to fuel this.”
Responding to the figures, a British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Abuse, intimidation, and violence – especially that which is motivated by hate – will never be tolerated, and we have acted swiftly and decisively when we receive reports of hate crimes on the network.
“The outcome of every investigation depends on several factors, including the available evidence, identification of a suspect or suspects, victim engagement, and whether the legal threshold is met for prosecution.”
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