UK antisemitic hate incidents hit new high in 2023, says charity

Reports of antisemitic incidents in the UK reached a record high last year, according to figures from a Jewish security charity.

The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded reports of 4,103 anti-Jewish hate incidents in 2023, up from 1,662 in 2022 and almost double the previous record of 2,255 hit in 2021.

Its annual report relies on figures from incidents that are self-reported.

Two-thirds of incidents happened on or after the Hamas attacks on 7 October.

This included 416 incidents reported to the CST, which works to protect British Jews from antisemitism, in the week following the attacks - the largest number than any subsequent week.

The CST said this suggested that the increase "was a celebration of the Hamas attack on Israel, rather than anger at Israel's military response in Gaza."

It also found such incidents in and around British schools have more than tripled since 2022.

Many Jewish schools have increased security since last October, including King David High School in Manchester.

While pupils feel safe at school, some say they have been subjected to abuse while travelling there and back.

Verbal abuse on the street has become part of daily life for pupils like Yoni.

"A lot of the time I do feel quite afraid walking around with a kippah [skullcap] because it makes me identifiably Jewish," he said. "Personally, when I've been walking down the street I've had stuff shouted at me from cars and it's had quite an impact.

"A few weeks ago I was threatened, reported it, and the police dealt with it."

His friend Akivah has also received abuse while shopping in Manchester.

"Unfortunately for a lot of people it's just a fact of life."

Higher Education Minister Robert Halfon called the figures "deeply concerning".

"To see this form of hatred also take place in education is unacceptable," he said.

"I have contacted all vice-chancellors - reaching out to many personally - to ask them step up and crack down on antisemitism on university campuses.

"The government has been clear that hate crime on any kind will not be tolerated and anyone found to have committed it will face the full force of the law."

The latest figures from some of the UK's largest police forces also showed a significant rise in antisemitic offences in the month following the 7 October attacks.

Greater Manchester Police recorded 74 such incidents compared with 15 during the same period the previous year, while the British Transport Police noted 87 offences - up from eight over the same period in 2022.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police separately recorded 218 antisemitic incidents between 1 and 18 October - up from 15 across the same period last year.

Some forces, including the Met, also recorded a rise in Islamophobic offences.

The biggest increase came from West Yorkshire Police, which reported 49 such incidents in the month following the 7 October attacks - up from 29 in the same time period in 2022.

Rabbi Benjy Rickman, head of religious studies at King David High School, thinks it is "terrifying" that pupils are afraid to use public transport because they are Jewish.

He believes education is the key to tackling antisemitism and has worked with different faith schools across Manchester for more than 10 years.

John Dalziel, the school's head teacher, said that while there had always been a "background of antisemitic comments and antisemitic abuse" aimed at students, he had seen a "spike" since 7 October.

"I think it's important to remember these are children," he said.

"They've got no involvement in what's happening in Israel and Gaza".

Mr Dalziel added that while the school had always had "tight security", it has now taken extra measures to protect staff and students - including having a visible police presence outside its gates.

In November, the government announced £7m in funding to help schools and universities tackle antisemitism.

Of the £7m, £5.5m is now available to be bid for by organisations.

CST's annual report also indicated:

The CST says the main surge in antisemitic hate incidents came after Hamas gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October and took 253 other people hostage.

The Israeli military then launched a campaign in Gaza, and its Hamas-run health ministry says more than 28,500 people have been killed in the territory since then.

CST chief executive Mark Gardner said the report highlights the human impact of antisemitism in the UK.

"Every single one of those reports, it all comes down to people - people asking what sort of future there is," he said.

"This report puts into very dry terms a very human story that is deeply impacting British Jews. "

Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is just such hatred and prejudice against Jews, and of course against other minorities, but it's something you would not think would exist in this day and age."