The UK government has announced a £250 million security package aimed at strengthening protection for the country’s Jewish community following a rise in antisemitic attacks.
The funding, unveiled on Monday, will support the deployment of more than 500 police officers in areas with large Jewish populations, including 300 officers in London.
The package will also finance increased police patrols around synagogues, Jewish schools, and the deployment of additional plainclothes officers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said tackling antisemitism has remained a key priority for his government.
“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,” Starmer said.
According to the government, the funding will be spent over the next three years, with part of the money dedicated to educational programmes aimed at combating antisemitism.
Deputy Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, Matt Jukes, said the Jewish community continues to face growing security threats.
“Jewish communities are facing an exceptional threat with rising hate crime alongside terrorism and interference from hostile states,” he said.
The announcement follows a series of attacks targeting Jewish communities across the UK.
In April, two Jewish men were stabbed in London’s Golders Green district in what police described as a terrorist attack. Other incidents included arson and attempted arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish facilities.
The government also revealed that £59 million from the package will be allocated to Britain’s counter-terrorism police to strengthen protection against terrorism and hostile state threats.
Following the attacks, the Metropolitan Police established a dedicated unit to improve security for Jewish communities across London.
Source: AFP.
