The Met says its 100-officer community protection team will focus on protecting Jewish communities across London

London mayor Sadiq Khan (left) with Met Police commissioner Mark Rowley (centre) (credit Met Police) — London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan (left) with Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (centre) (credit Met Police)

The Metropolitan Police is announcing the creation of a new team to antisemitic hate crime in London today.

The Met says its community protection team will be made up of a 100 officers bringing together

neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counter terrorism capabilities with the aim of “providing a more visible, intelligence‑led and coordinated presence focused on protecting Jewish communities across London”.

It describes the move as “the beginning of a new, more sustainable and consistent model of protection built around local knowledge, visibility and partnership, rather than relying solely on repeated short‑term surges”.

The announcement comes as further arrests were made over the weekend in connection with recent attacks.

These included the arrest, on Friday, of a 57‑year‑old on suspicion of causing fear or provocation of violence following reports he threatened a Jewish man while using racially offensive language.

Then on Saturday a 35‑year‑old man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage after rocks were thrown at an ambulance belonging to the Jewish community while it was transporting a patient in Edgware.

In the past four weeks, the Met says it has arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes, with eight individuals being charged.

The Met welcomed the government’s announcement last week of £25million in funding to support protective policing, including £18m specifically for the Met.

Explaining the decision to launch the team, the Met explained that British Jews now appear on the hate lists of every major extremist movement: extreme right‑wing groups, Islamist terrorists, elements of the extreme left and hostile state actors. It described this situation as a “deeply concerning convergence” adding that “Jewish communities are living with the consequences of that risk daily”.

Commenting on the move, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “The creation of a new Community Protection Team of around 100 officers is an important step in strengthening our response to the sustained threats Jewish communities are facing.”

He added: “I welcome the government’s £18million funding, which has already paid for thousands of additional officer shifts at a time of exceptional pressure. But this funding is short term and requires investment to sustain our policing response to this growing threat.

“We are working with government and the mayor to ensure the approach we are building can be sustained over time, not just for Jewish communities, but as a model that can support other communities across London when facing elevated risk.

“A settled, long‑term model built around local teams will be far more effective than repeated emergency responses, reducing risk and delivering lasting reassurance.”

The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: “I welcome this support for a new dedicated community protection team. The appalling attack in Golders Green was just the latest in a series of antisemitic acts of violence that have targeted Jewish people, synagogues, homes and charities, creating ripples of fear in our Jewish communities.”

He added: “The new team will combine Met neighbourhood policing officers – who know their communities best – with dedicated specialist Met protection teams working around the clock to reassure and protect London’s Jewish communities. The Met Commissioner and I have set out a detailed proposal to the government for a new, long-term approach.

“Working with the police and others, I am determined to bear down on antisemitism and ensure Jewish Londoners feel safe and are safe in our city. Alongside the police action we need a relentless approach to tackling all hate crime in London and we all have a role to play in calling out hate in all its forms to build a safer London for everyone.”

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