UK Police Launch Special Protection Team for Jewish Communities

The Metropolitan Police has launched a new Community Protection Team comprising 100 additional officers to tackle rising antisemitic hate crimes in London following a series of violent incidents targeting Jewish communities.

The specialist unit combines neighbourhood policing, counter-terrorism resources and protection teams to provide a more visible and intelligence-led response. The move follows last week’s terrorist stabbing attack in Golders Green , where two Jewish men suffered serious injuries, alongside synagogue arsons, threats and attacks on Jewish charities and community vehicles.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the force is already deploying an additional 1,000 officer shifts weekly through overtime and redeployment but warned long-term government support would be needed to sustain operations. Authorities said antisemitic incidents in London reached their highest monthly level in two years, with about 140 reported cases across 21 boroughs in April.

The crackdown follows a Downing Street summit chaired by Prime Minister Keir Starmer , who urged stronger action against hate crimes. The UK government is also preparing tougher laws under which individuals carrying out attacks linked to hostile foreign states could face prison terms of up to 14 years.

However, the move has also drawn criticism from some activists who argue that Black, Muslim, South Asian and immigrant communities facing violence and hate crimes have not received similar dedicated policing support despite repeated attacks over the years. Critics also linked rising tensions in Britain to the ongoing Gaza war and anger over Israel’s military operations.

Police and government officials said hate crimes against any community cannot be justified and stressed the new unit could become a future model for protecting all vulnerable groups across London.