The Metropolitan Police has announced a new dedicated Community Protection Team made up of around 100 officers, following a series of antisemitic incidents across London — including an attack on a Jewish community ambulance in Edgware.
The new team will combine neighbourhood officers, specialist protection officers and counter terrorism resources, with a focus on protecting Jewish communities across the capital.
The announcement comes after several arrests were made over the weekend in connection with antisemitic hate crime offences.
One of the incidents happened in Edgware on Saturday, 2 May, when a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage after rocks were allegedly thrown at an ambulance belonging to the Jewish community while it was transporting a patient.
Other arrests over the weekend included a 57-year-old man arrested on Friday, 1 May, on suspicion of causing fear or provocation of violence after reports he threatened a Jewish man while using racially offensive language.
Further arrests were also made in Brent and Croydon for alleged racially aggravated harassment, criminal damage and public order offences. All those arrested have been released on bail pending further investigation.
The Met said around 50 people have been arrested for antisemitic hate crimes in the last four weeks alone, with eight people charged. A further 28 arrests have also been linked to arson investigations and other serious offences being handled alongside Counter Terrorism Policing.
The force said more than 80 arrests have now been made in total.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “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. It brings together experienced local officers who know their communities, supported by specialist capabilities, to provide more visible, consistent and intelligence-led protection.
“I welcome the Government’s £18 million funding, which has already paid for thousands of additional officer shifts at a time of exceptional pressure. But this funding is short term and requires investment to sustain our policing response to this growing threat.
“We are working with Government and the Mayor to ensure the approach we are building can be sustained over time, not just for Jewish communities, but as a model that can support other communities across London when facing elevated risk.
“A settled, long-term model built around local teams will be far more effective than repeated emergency responses, reducing risk and delivering lasting reassurance.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I welcome this support for a new dedicated Community Protection Team. The appalling attack in Golders Green was just the latest in a series of antisemitic acts of violence that have targeted Jewish people, synagogues, homes and charities, creating ripples of fear in our Jewish communities.
“The new team will combine Met neighbourhood policing officers – who know their communities best – with dedicated specialist Met protection teams working around the clock to reassure and protect London’s Jewish communities. The Met Commissioner and I have set out a detailed proposal to the Government for a new, long-term approach.
“Working with the police and others, I am determined to bear down on antisemitism and ensure Jewish Londoners feel safe and are safe in our city. Alongside the police action we need a relentless approach to tackling all hate crime in London and we all have a role to play in calling out hate in all its forms to build a safer London for everyone.”
The Met said the new team is initially focused on protecting Jewish communities due to the current level of threats, but added it could also act as a model to support other communities facing spikes in hate crime or targeted hostility in the future.
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