Greater Manchester Deputy Mayor insists anti-Semitic hate crime will not be tolerated
It comes a month since Hamas attacked Israel on 7th October
Last updated 7th Nov 2023
Greater Manchester's Deputy Mayor says it is "utterly shocking" the region's Jewish Community has faced a 1000% increase in anti-Semitism, since Hamas attacked Israel, sparking conflict in the Middle East one month ago.
According to The Community Security Trust: "The 28 days inclusive between the Hamas attack on Israel (Saturday 7 October) and Friday 3 November, recorded at least 1019 anti-Semitic incidents across the UK, with 188 of those in Greater Manchester. This is the highest ever total reported to CST across a twenty-eight-day period. CST has been recording anti-Semitic incidents since 1984."
In just four weeks, CST has recorded more anti-Semitic incidents than the 803 reported in the first six months in this year.
CST said: "This is also a provisional total that is almost certain to increase further as we receive more delayed reports of incidents covering this period, and while we continue to verify and log all the reports that we have currently received.
"For comparison, CST recorded 160 anti-Semitic incidents over the same 28 days in 2022. This means that we have seen an increase in anti-Jewish hate acts of 537% this year compared to the same period last year."
Deputy Mayor, Kate Green said: "I know that our Jewish community here in Greater Manchester are feeling fearful and anxious, obviously very anxious for family members and friends in the region in the Middle East, but anxious about their own safety here at home too.
"It should not be like that. That isn't acceptable to the Mayor, or to me."
"Officers absolutely understand the importance of defencing and protecting all of our communities but especially our Jewish community who are experiencing this disproportionate increase in hate crime and abuse at this really terrible and distressing time."
The Deputy Mayor said people need to be reporting any incidents: "Even now with this huge increase on the number of reports we're receiving, people may still not be reporting and we want them to, so that we can take the appropriate enforcement action.
"Police can address the criminal behaviour that occurs but also so that we're aware, to support communities and give them a sense of confidence that they're being properly protected."