A new dedicated Community Protection Team to tackle antisemitic hate crime

A new dedicated Community Protection Team to tackle antisemitic hate crime

We have announced this week a new dedicated Community Protection Team of initially 100 extra officers, as further arrests were made for antisemitic hate crime. 

The new team brings together neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counter terrorism capabilities, providing a more visible, intelligence‑led and coordinated presence focused on protecting Jewish communities across London.  This approach reflects what we know works best: officers who are locally based, understand their communities, and have strong relationships with residents, schools, faith leaders and volunteers. 

In its initial phase, this new team will be primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community, which faces some of the highest levels of hate crime alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats. However, it is also intended to provide a blueprint for how policing responds when tensions rise, so that other communities feel equally supported and protected when they face spikes in hate crime or targeted hostility. 

British Jews now appear on the hate lists of every major extremist movement: extreme right‑wing groups, Islamist terrorists, elements of the extreme left and hostile state actors. It is a deeply concerning convergence, and Jewish communities are living with the consequences of that risk daily. 

This focus does not mean the Metropolitan Police is deprioritising other communities. Hate crime in all its forms – including ongoing efforts to tackle racism, anti‑Muslim hate crime, homophobia and other forms of hatred in the capital – remains a core policing priority. 

In the past four weeks alone, the Met has arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes, with eight individuals charged. This is in addition to 28 arrests linked to arsons and other serious offences investigated alongside Counter Terrorism Policing. In total, more than 80 arrests have now been made. Latest updates on these arrests will be posted on the Met Police News page. 

The Metropolitan Police will continue to pursue offenders relentlessly, disrupt threats and protect communities, while working with Government and partners to secure a long‑term, sustainable funding settlement that strengthens resilience across London. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, northwest Commander for Barnet, Brent and Harrow, has said:

“The launch of the new Community Protection Team is a significant step in strengthening our response to the ongoing threats that Jewish communities are facing. Part of the new team, based locally here in northwest London, will be made up of a range of officers in communities using their powers to protect Jewish communities.”