London police form new unit to boost protection for Jews

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London: The Metropolitan Police announced Wednesday the formation of a dedicated ‘community protection team’ to safeguard London’s Jewish communities following a surge in antisemitic hate crimes and arson attacks. 

The new unit will initially deploy 100 additional officers, merging neighborhood policing with advanced counter-terrorism and specialist protection capabilities.

This move follows several high-profile incidents, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green and a recent arson attack on a former synagogue in east London. 

In the past month alone, the Met has arrested over 80 individuals related to antisemitic crimes. Commissioner Mark Rowley described the unit as a vital step in addressing ‘sustained threats’ while providing a visible, intelligence-led presence.

To further combat the crisis, the chief prosecutor for England and Wales announced that hate crime prosecutions will now be fast-tracked to address the troubling rise in incidents. 

While the unit currently focuses on Jewish communities, police noted it would serve as a blueprint for responding to rising tensions in other communities across the capital.