£250m funding boost announced to protect Jewish communities across England

Police forces across England are to receive £251 million in new funding to help protect Jewish communities following a rise in antisemitic attacks, the government has announced.

The Metropolitan Police will receive £86 million to recruit approximately 300 extra officers to increase police presence in Jewish neighbourhoods and around synagogues, schools and community centres. The funding will also establish additional Community Protection Teams across three sites in London, including a new community hub in Golders Green.

Greater Manchester Police is set to receive £22 million to sustain increased policing presence following an attack in Heaton Park last year in which two Jewish men were killed. Seven other police force areas with significant Jewish populations will share approximately £43 million between them.

A further £41 million will support national policing coordination, including antisemitism training for all officers in England and Wales, and £59 million will go to counter-terrorism police.

The funding follows a series of antisemitic attacks in London and the raising of the national terror threat level from substantial to severe.

Gilbert