Antisemitic Incidents in the UK, January - June 2011

CST today releases its half-yearly report of antisemitic incidents in the UK for the period from January to June 2011. The figures show a fall of 13 per cent in the first six months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

CST recorded 283 antisemitic incidents across the country in the first half of 2011, compared to 325 in the first six months of 2010. The first half of 2009 saw a record high of 628 antisemitic incidents, more than is recorded in many full years, largely because of antisemitic reactions to the conflict in Gaza.

The total of 283 incidents includes 41 violent antisemitic assaults, down from 45 in the first half of 2010; 35 incidents of antisemitic damage to Jewish property, compared to 47 in the first half of 2010; 186 incidents in the category of Abusive Behaviour, which includes verbal abuse, hate-mail and antisemitic graffiti on non-Jewish property, compared to 211 in the first half of 2010; 16 direct antisemitic threats, compared to 34 in the first half of 2010; and five cases of mass-produced or mass-mailed antisemitic literature, two more than in the first six months of 2010. In addition, a further 216 reports of potential incidents were received by CST, but were not deemed to be antisemitic and are not included in this total.

Greater Manchester saw an increase of 27% in the number of incidents reported to CST, from 95 in the first six months of 2010 to 121 in the first six months of 2011. This increase occurred mainly in Salford, due to local community awareness campaigns and enhanced exchange of information between CST and Greater Manchester Police. There were 98 antisemitic incidents recorded in Greater London, down from 127 in the first half of 2010 – the first time that CST has recorded more incidents in Manchester than in London – and 64 in the rest of the UK, compared to 103 in the first half of 2010.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded from the CST website here (pdf).