Funding to better protect Jewish neighbourhoods welcomed, says three counties rabbi
An announcement from Sir Keir Starmer's government last week confirmed record investment to keep Jewish communities safe
An investment of over a quarter of a billion pounds to better protect Jewish people is a "strong statement", the lead rabbi of the Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community has said.
The announcement made under the Sir Keir Starmer government last week confirmed £251 million across the next three years would help to increase policing in Jewish communities.
Funding will allow for over 500 additional officers across England and Wales to be put in place, with £59 million awarded to Counter-Terrorism Police to enhance protective security and counter state threats.
Also included is £41 million for national policing coordination and increased antisemitism capabilities which will ensure surge resources are available to all forces to protect Jewish communities.
Anna Gerrard, lead rabbi of the Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community which covers Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, said: "We welcome this investment because it is only fair that a community that is experiencing this level of threat should be supported.
"However, there's another side to it, which is that it feels incredibly sad and not right at all that this should be needed, that a religious community in our country cannot go about its daily business without needing millions of pounds to be spent on security just to keep its members safe."
£86 million of the funding will go to the Metropolitan Police for an additional 300 officers, while over £22 million to Greater Manchester Police will allow them to sustain their police presence.
Around £43 million is to be distributed across seven police force areas with significant Jewish communities which includes the West Midlands.
Rabbi Gerrard said alongside this funding, work needs to continue to tackle antisemitism.
"It's definitely not the answer," she said.
"The problem needs to be sorted out, there needs to be better education, better inter-community work, better opportunities for conversation, dialogue, understanding, and that's what we really want.
"It's a bold move by the government and a very strong statement that they will support the Jewish community and they will keep everybody safe, the next bold move needs to be all the measures that they're going to take to actually try and increase tolerance and integration between communities."
The funding follows another £25 million one which was made earlier this year to provide immediate protection for Jewish communities.