Prosecutors in England and Wales have been instructed to fast-track hate crime cases following a surge in antisemitic attacks, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as a 'crisis for all of us'. Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, issued new guidance on Tuesday urging staff to bring forward prosecutions as quickly as possible, even if not all evidence has been gathered.
Parkinson stated that the recent acts of extreme violence and criminal damage against the Jewish community are deplorable, and that daily threats and abuse are contributing to a climate of fear. Under the changes, prosecutors will be encouraged to charge based on a reliable victim's account in some cases, such as public order offences, without waiting for supporting evidence.
The move comes after a stabbing attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, which police are treating as terrorism. Starmer convened a summit at Downing Street, urging universities, arts groups, and charities to do more to combat antisemitism. Universities will now be required to publish audits on campus antisemitism, while Arts Council England may withdraw funding from those promoting antisemitism.
Starmer also warned Iran of consequences if it is found to have been behind recent attacks, including the Golders Green stabbing and arson incidents. The government plans to introduce legislation to ease sanctions on state-backed groups like Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), though pressure is mounting for faster action.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised its exclusion from the summit, calling for the IRGC to be proscribed and its ambassador expelled, a stance echoed by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which attended the event.
