CST Antisemitic Incidents Report reveals record number of antisemitic hate incidents in first six months of 2017

CST's Antisemitic Incidents Report January – June 2017, published today, shows that in the first six months of this year, CST recorded 767 antisemitic incidents, which was a 30% increase from the 589 incidents recorded during the same period in 2016. This total of 767 incidents is a record for the first six months of any year. A further 483 reports were received by CST in the first six months of 2017, but were not deemed to be antisemitic and are not included in this total. 

CST saw over 100 antisemitic incidents recorded for every month so far this year. This continues an unprecedented pattern of monthly totals higher than 100 incidents for every month since April 2016. The average monthly incident totals recorded by CST are now roughly double the level they were at five years ago.

It is likely that the incident totals recorded by CST reflect a general, sustained rise in the number of antisemitic incidents in an average month. Jewish communal concern about antisemitism and consequent better reporting, in addition to increased reporting from commercial security guards, may contribute partly to the rise in recorded incidents. However, these factors alone do not explain the scale and breadth of the increase.

The most common single type of incident recorded by CST in the first half of 2017 involved verbal abuse randomly directed at visibly Jewish people in public. In at least 203 incidents, the victims were visibly Jewish.

CST recorded 80 violent antisemitic assaults in the first six months of 2017, the highest number CST has ever recorded for the January to June period. None of these violent incidents were classified by CST as ‘Extreme Violence’, which would mean they involved potential grievous bodily harm (GBH) or threat to life.

Almost three-quarters of the 767 antisemitic incidents were recorded in Greater London and Greater Manchester, the two largest Jewish communities in the UK. CST recorded 425 antisemitic incidents in Greater London, a rise of 10% from the 387 incidents recorded in Greater London during the same period in 2016. In Greater Manchester, CST recorded 145 antisemitic incidents, an increase of 84% from the 79 incidents recorded there in the first six months of 2016. Beyond these two centres, CST recorded 197 antisemitic incidents in 66 locations around the UK, including 22 in Hertfordshire, 22 in Gateshead, 10 in Brighton & Hove, 9 in Leeds and 7 in Birmingham. 

CST Chief Executive David Delew said:

“CST has again recorded an unprecedented number of antisemitic incidents, with figures now almost twice as bad as five years ago. Some of this may be down to improved reporting, but it is sadly clear that the overall situation has deteriorated. Antisemitism is having an increasing impact on the lives of British Jews and the hatred and anger that lies behind it is spreading.” 

Home Secretary Amber Rudd MP responded to the report:

“Antisemitism has no place in this country, which prides itself on openness, diversity and tolerance. This Government’s Hate Crime Action Plan has improved the response of law enforcement to these deplorable crimes, including encouraging more victims to report incidents directly to police or via trusted organisations such as CST. This may partly explain the increase in reported incidents. But I am clear that one such incident is one too many and we will continue to do everything we can to stamp out the hatred and division that blights our communities. That is why we are providing £13.4m to protect Jewish sites and made available £900,000 for innovative schemes to tackle various types of hate crime. We will continue to drive forward action and develop new ways to rid the country of antisemitism and hate crime in all its forms.”

Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities Dawn Butler MP said:

“The continued rise in anti-Semitic incidents is appalling and is beginning to display a very worrying trend. These crimes have no place in our society. We must combat and tackle the root cause of this criminality and seek to build a society that is fair, tolerant and free of all forms of racism and discrimination.” 

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid MP said: 

“This rise in reported antisemitic incidents is completely unacceptable. Everyone in this country has a right to live without fear of abuse or attack and we must as a nation firmly condemn this hatred and all other forms of bigotry. Crimes must always be reported and it is encouraging that Jewish communities are more confident in coming forward. We will continue to work with the Community Security Trust to ensure that those who perpetuate hate against the Jewish community are subject to the full force of the law.”

All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism Chair John Mann MP said:

"This report should be of serious concern to people up and down Britain. If we are to pride ourselves on being a diverse, equal and welcoming country we have to reverse this worrying trend."

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Antisemitic Issues, said:

“There is never any excuse for abuse, racism or hate crime. Police forces take our responsibility to protect people from harm and promote cohesion seriously. These figures demonstrate that there has been an increase in antisemitism directed against our UK Jewish communities. Police forces are committed to working with CST to respond to all instances of hate crime and protect the Jewish community from this abuse. I want to encourage anyone who is targeted in this way to report to their local police - you will be listened to, taken seriously, and officers will do all they can to bring offenders to justice.”

If you have been a victim or witness to antisemitism, report it to CST here, and in the case of an emergency contact the Police on 999. 

Read the full Antisemitic Incidents Report January – June 2017.