Increased funding for security of UK Jewish communities

The United Kingdom said on Thursday that it will increase funding for security at Jewish schools and synagogues by 15 million pounds ($18.5 million USD) in the 2023 to 2024 budgetary year, to provide additional protection against potential anti-Semitic attacks.

The decision represents an increase of 1 million pounds ($1.2 million USD) from the previous budgetary year.

According to the British government, the security fund will finance security guards, alarm systems and surveillance equipment.

In addition, British ministers, senior policing leaders, the Community Security Trust charity and other stakeholders will establish a new Jewish Community Police, Crime and Security Taskforce for the purpose of tackling anti-Semitic crime and violence against Jewish communities. The taskforce will consist of police, ministers and the Jewish Community Security Trust and meet three times a year.

“Attacks on the Jewish community are abhorrent. I applaud the police’s efforts to tackle these crimes, but we must go further to ensure the vile criminals who threaten the peace and safety of Jewish communities feel the full force of the law,” said British Home Secretary Sue-Ellen Cassiana "Suella" Braverman in a statement.

Although anti-Semitic incidents in the United Kingdom fell by more than a quarter last year from 2021 – which had a record high number of incidents – an increasing number of Jewish children are becoming victims of anti-Semitism. Almost a quarter of all hate crimes motivated by religion in the UK last year were against Jewish people, according to the government.

“Anti-Semitism is one of the great evils in the world. It is vital that all people, but especially political leaders, challenge anti-Semitism whenever and wherever they encounter it,” Braverman stated.

The new funding will bring the total amount spent on Jewish security through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to 122 million pounds ($150 million USD) since 2015.