Met Police to Deploy 100-Officer Team to Protect London's Jewish Communities

The Metropolitan Police announced plans to deploy a dedicated team of 100 additional officers to protect London's Jewish communities.

The new Community Protection Team will include officers from neighbourhood policing, specialist protection units and those with counter-terrorism capabilities. Officers will be locally based, understand their communities and maintain strong relationships with residents, schools, faith leaders and volunteers.

The announcement comes after a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London and a double stabbing in Golders Green that police are treating as terrorism.

The Community Security Trust, a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism, welcomed the move. A CST spokesperson said: "This new measure is an important step at a time of heightened anti-Jewish hatred and reflects the seriousness of the threats currently facing the community. The increase in the number of arrests for antisemitic hate crimes in recent weeks is a welcome sign of effective action being taken by the police, which we hope will send a strong message both to the Jewish community and to would-be offenders."

About 50 people have been arrested in connection with several antisemitic hate crimes in London over recent weeks, with eight charged, according to the Met.

Metropolitan Police 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. 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."

Sir Mark previously warned of a growing "pandemic" of antisemitism in the UK and called for 300 extra officers across London.

The announcement follows a £25 million government funding package for protective policing, with £18 million allocated to the Met. The force said the money has already funded an additional 1,000 officer shifts per week, mainly through overtime and redeployment.