Police to receive £251m to strengthen protection for Jewish communities

The largest allocation will go to the Metropolitan Police Service, which is set to receive £86 million. The funding will enable the force to recruit up to 300 additional officers, expand neighbourhood patrols around Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres, strengthen its Community Protection Teams and establish a new community hub in Golders Green.

The announcement follows a series of antisemitic attacks in the capital, including the fatal stabbing of two men in Golders Green in April, and comes after the national terrorism threat level was raised from substantial to severe.

Greater Manchester Police will receive £22 million to maintain the enhanced policing operation introduced after the fatal attack on Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz in Heaton Park last year.

A further £43 million will be shared between Hertfordshire, Essex, Sussex, Thames Valley, West Midlands, West Yorkshire and Northumbria police forces, all of which have significant Jewish communities.

Beyond local policing, £41 million has been earmarked for national coordination, including antisemitism training for officers across England and Wales, while £59 million will support counter-terrorism policing.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the investment represented “a step change in protection” that would help ensure Jewish communities could practise their faith without fear. Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones described the package as record investment to improve safety for Jewish people, particularly in London.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said the funding would significantly expand the force’s ability to protect vulnerable communities through additional officers, strengthened specialist teams and the creation of new policing facilities.

He said: “Jewish communities are facing an exceptional threat with rising hate crime alongside terrorism and interference from hostile states. We thank the Home Office for this vital funding which is set to strengthen our ability to protect those most at risk and relentlessly pursue those driven by hate.

“Antisemitic hate crime has reached a two-year high. We have already deployed an additional 1,000 officers each week and Counter Terrorism Policing has made 35 arrests as part of 11 investigations. But short-term surge activity is not enough if we want to provide lasting protection for communities against the long-term threats posed by hostile states and instances of hate crime. This investment allows us to bolster existing dedicated Community Protection Teams and establish further teams across three sites in London, advance our armed policing and specialist Counter Terrorism teams, recruit up to 300 officers, and create a community hub in Golders Green that will provide visible and locally-rooted policing.

“This is a step change in how we protect communities in London. It will strengthen our response to antisemitism now, while creating a blueprint that ensures any community facing increased hostility knows we will stand with them and keep them safe.”

The Community Security Trust also welcomed the announcement. Chief executive Mark Gardner said the additional resources were urgently needed given the current threat picture.

The latest package follows the £25 million emergency funding announced in April after the Golders Green attack, which enabled the Metropolitan Police to increase patrols across north-west London.

Alongside the policing measures, the government confirmed £32.4 million for protective security at Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres during 2026-27. Ministers also highlighted previously announced funding of £7 million to tackle antisemitism in schools and universities, as well as expanded community cohesion programmes.