UK police launch dedicated Community Protection Team to combat antisemitic hate crimes

The Met Police reported that in the past four weeks it had arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes, with eight charged, plus 28 arrests linked to arsons and other offences investigated alongside Counter Terrorism Policing, totaling more than 80 arrests.

The Met Police welcomed the government's 18 million pounds funding aimed at thousands of additional officer shifts during a period of exceptional pressure; officials said the approach requires long-term investment to be sustainable.

The Met Police were investigating another suspected arson attack at a synagogue on Wednesday morning, with arrests over the weekend in connection with racially and religiously aggravated offences. The department highlighted arrests on May 1 and May 2 in separate incidents, with individuals released on bail pending further investigation.

The Met launched a dedicated Community Protection Team built from around 100 extra officers to tackle antisemitic hate crimes in London, combining neighbourhood policing with specialist protection and counter-terrorism capabilities to provide more visible, intelligence-led protection. The force said it is deploying around 1,000 extra officer shifts per week, funded by overtime and short-term redeployment.

A Downing Street summit chaired by Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on all sections of British society to fight back against the impact of the West Asia conflict and related attacks targeting communities.

Further arrests were made for racially aggravated harassment, criminal damage and public order offences in Brent, north London, and Croydon, south London. All have been released on bail pending further investigation.

A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage after rocks were thrown at an ambulance belonging to the Jewish community in Edgware, north London.

A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing fear or provocation of violence after reports that he threatened a Jewish man while using racially offensive language.

The article notes a series of antisemitic hate crimes in London, including last week's terrorist attack in Golders Green that left two men with serious stab injuries.