00:00The Metropolitan Police said in its initial phase the new team will be primarily focused
00:05on protecting the Jewish community, which faces some of the highest levels of hate crime
00:10alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats.
00:14It added that it would bring together neighborhood policing, specialist protection, and counterterrorism
00:21capabilities to provide a more visible, intelligence-led, and coordinated presence focused on protecting
00:27Jewish communities across London.
00:30Sir Mark Rowley, the force's chief, initially claimed 300 more officers were needed to tackle
00:37the rise in anti-Semitism across the capital, but the new community protection team consists
00:43of only 100.
00:44Since late March, there have been a series of arson attacks at Jewish sites in London, as
00:50well as a double stabbing in Golders Green that is being treated as an act of terrorism.
00:54The Home Office is backing the Met's action with £18 million, and a further £4 million
01:00will be made available through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to help support community-led
01:06and charity work.
01:08At the same time, England and Wales' chief prosecutor has issued fresh guidance in an effort to fast-track
01:15hate crime prosecutions.
01:17Director of Public Prosecution Stephen Parkinson told the Press Association he hoped to put a
01:23line in the sand and stop an uptick in anti-Semitic behaviour.
Comments