Kamal Ghorui
The Metropolitan Police has formed a new 100-officer unit to strengthen protection for Jewish community across London amid a recent rise in antisemitic incidents. The force said the new Community Protection Team will include neighbourhood officers, specialist protection units and personnel with counter-terrorism expertise.The move comes after several attacks targeting Jewish sites in the capital, including arson incidents and a double stabbing in Golders Green that investigators are treating as terrorism-related.Police said around 50 people have been arrested in connection with antisemitic hate crimes in recent weeks, with eight individuals charged so far.The incidents included attacks on synagogues, a Jewish ambulance service and a memorial wall in Golders Green.Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the additional officers would help improve security and community reassurance during a period of heightened concern.“The creation of a new Community Protection Team of around 100 officers is an important step in strengthening our response to the sustained threats Jewish communities are facing,” he said as quoted by the BBC.Rowley added that the force was working with the government and London mayor’s office to ensure long-term support for the initiative.The deployment follows a £25 million government funding package for protective policing, with £18 million allocated to the Metropolitan Police.According to the force, the funding has already supported additional officer deployments across London through overtime and reassignment measures.Police said the new team will initially focus on antisemitic threats but could later be adapted to support other communities facing spikes in hate-related offences, including anti-Muslim abuse, racism and homophobia.
