The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has announced that hate crime prosecutions will be fast-tracked in response to a “deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents” across England and Wales. Stephen Parkinson, the chief prosecutor, has issued new guidance to prosecutors, stating that once the evidential threshold for a charge is met, “any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently.”
This decision follows a series of attacks on Britain’s Jewish community, including arson attacks at Jewish sites in London and a double stabbing in Golders Green, which is being treated as an act of terrorism. Speaking to the Press Association, Mr Parkinson expressed hope that “we can put a line in the sand” and that swift decision-making would curb the “uptick” in antisemitic behaviour.
Mr Parkinson clarified that the fast-tracking does not apply to complex cases, emphasising the importance of allowing police adequate time to build evidence. He noted that in recent high-profile cases, prosecutors have worked closely with police to develop evidence for charging decisions. The guidance aims to ensure that charging decisions are made “swiftly and efficiently,” focusing on core evidence to determine if the evidential test is satisfied.
Since late March, there have been multiple antisemitic incidents, including a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue in Nelson Street, Whitechapel, east London, in the early hours of Tuesday. Counter-terrorism police are investigating the attack. While Mr Parkinson stated that prosecutors have not seen evidence of linkage between the incidents, he acknowledged a “pattern of copycat antisemitism,” which may encourage further crimes.
Asked whether more antisemitic crimes could be prosecuted as terrorism, Mr Parkinson said it is possible, provided the necessary links are established. He noted that “only a fraction” of antisemitic crimes are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), despite the Jewish community facing “extreme acts of violence and criminal damage.”
The guidance highlights that antisemitic incidents are not limited to extreme violence but include everyday threats and abuse intended to cause distress. It states: “All such incidents are crimes, but only a fraction of them are referred to the CPS. Where they are, we prosecute in the great majority of cases, with a high conviction rate.”
Dave Rich, director of policy at Community Security Trust (CST), welcomed the guidance, saying: “We hope to see it implemented with real force across the country. Anti-Jewish hate crimes are running at far too high a level, and we hope that quicker prosecutions will deter further offenders and show the Jewish community that the CPS will act to bring antisemites to justice.”
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned Iran that efforts to stir up violence and hatred in the UK “will not be tolerated,” amid suspicions that Tehran may be backing antisemitic attacks. The Government has promised new legislation to target state-backed groups, and Mr Parkinson said he would “definitely” support the proscription of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) if it strengthened the CPS’s ability to prosecute.
Sir Keir also called on the Arts Council to act against bodies it funds that promote or platform antisemitism. Speaking at a Downing Street roundtable, he said: “We will also expect more where public funding is being used to promote or platform antisemitism, the Arts Council must act, using its power to suspend, withdraw and claw back funding.” The Government has ordered an independent audit of how allegations of antisemitism are handled.
In response, Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, stated: “Antisemitism is abhorrent and there is no place for it in Arts Council-funded organisations. The new independent audit announced today is valuable at this time, and we welcome any intervention that helps ensure our processes are robust and effective in addressing complaints about antisemitism. We expect all organisations we fund to uphold freedom of expression, to support Jewish artists to work without fear, and to ensure Jewish audiences feel safe in cultural spaces.”
