The United Kingdom announced on March 30 that it will increase funding to protect synagogues and Jewish schools in 2023-24 by 7.1%—from 14 million pounds (about $17 million) last year to 15 million pounds (a little more than $18.3 million)
The British government also announced plans to implement a task force on Jewish community police, crime and security. The funding will reportedly be used for new surveillance systems, alarms and guards.
Antisemitic incidents are down 27% in the United Kingdom, according to a recent report, but they still remain at high levels. Government hate-crime statistics for 2021-22 indicate that 23% of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the United Kingdom were against Jews, who make up less than 1% of the religious population there.
Last year, a poll found that 34% of Britons aged 18 to 24—and 20% of the general population—think to one degree or another that Jews possess inordinate control over the world’s banking and financial systems.
British Interior Minister Suella Braverman said recently: “We must go further to ensure the vile criminals who threaten the peace and safety of Jewish communities feel the full force of the law.”
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