UK antisemitic hate incidents surge in 2024, says charity

Reports of antisemitic incidents within the UK within the first half of this yr have reached one other file excessive, in accordance with figures from a Jewish safety charity.

From January to June 2024, the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded reviews of 1,978 anti-Jewish hate incidents, up from 964 within the first half of 2023.

The CST says the file excessive complete within the first half of 2024 is a continuation of the affect of antisemitic reactions to the 7 October assault in Israel and the continuing struggle.

The report depends on figures from incidents which might be self-reported.

Some 1,037 of the recorded antisemitic incidents have been in Greater London, together with 411 in Barnet – the native authority house to the most important Jewish group within the UK.

The CST mentioned a technical drawback in March onwards disrupted the circulate of reviews acquired from the Metropolitan Police, that means the precise determine for Greater London can be even larger.

The area with the second highest variety of recorded antisemitic incidents was Greater Manchester with 268, adopted by West Yorkshire with 115.

Across the UK, the CST recorded 121 incidents of assault within the first six months of the yr, a rise of 41% in the identical interval final yr.

Cases of injury and desecration to Jewish property rose by 246% from 24 within the first half of 2023 to 83 between January and June 2024.

There have been 142 incidents of threats within the six months from January to June. This is an increase of 158% from 55 in the identical interval a yr in the past.

There have been 162 instances of antisemitism affecting individuals and property in schooling. This is a rise of 119% from the 74 such incidents reported from January to June 2023.

The starkest determine is the rise in anti-Jewish hate involving larger schooling exhibiting a 465% rise.

In the primary six months of the yr there have been 96 antisemitic incidents wherein victims have been or offenders have been college students or teachers, or which concerned scholar unions or societies.

The CST says it’s a file half-year spike as there have been 17 cases of university-related antisemitism within the first six months of 2023.

Mark Gardner, chief govt of the CST, says the figures are unprecedented.

“The CST will continue its steadfast protection of our British Jewish communities, driven by our values of Community, Security and Trust,” he added.

“CST applauds our community’s ever-increasing determination to stand strong and proud, despite the hatred.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the figures as “truly appalling”.

She added: “There is no place in Britain for this vile hatred and we are absolutely clear that those who push this poison – on the streets or online – must always face the full force of the law.”

Conservative shadow house secretary James Cleverly mentioned: “We must root out antisemitism wherever it occurs.

“It is as much as all of us to cease and reverse the rise on this vile hatred we now have seen within the UK because the Hamas terror assault on 7 October.

“It can never be right British Jews could be concerned for their safety on the streets of modern Britain.”

In November, then Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised £7m over the following three years to charities tackling antisemitism within the UK.