Greater Manchester Police is set to receive an additional £22 million to fund extra policing in Jewish communities following the deadly terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue in October last year. The funding will be used to deploy more officers around schools, community centres, and synagogues in areas including Prestwich and Broughton, as well as to support specialist and plain-clothes officers trained to identify suspicious behaviour.
The announcement was made by the Prime Minister as part of a nationwide £250 million boost to police budgets to tackle antisemitism. The Prime Minister described it as a 'step-change in protection and policing so Jewish communities can live and celebrate their faith free from fear'. The funding comes after the terror attack on October 2, in which Jihad Al-Shamie killed Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz and seriously injured three others at a synagogue in Crumpsall on Yom Kippur. Al-Shamie was subsequently shot dead by armed police.
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones stated: 'After a series of appalling attacks against Jewish communities, the difficult decision was made to raise the threat level to Severe. My thoughts remain with the victims of these vile attacks. Today we are going further and providing record funding to help keep Jewish people in Manchester safe, supporting visible policing and protection around synagogues, schools and community centres.'
Nationally, the funding will provide an extra 500 officers overall, with £59 million allocated to Counter-Terrorism Police. The Metropolitan Police will receive £86 million for around 300 additional officers, while £43 million will be shared across seven other police forces with significant Jewish populations, including the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
Mark Gardner, Chief Executive of the Community Security Trust, welcomed the funding, saying: 'This serious increase in policing and government support comes not a moment too soon, because this is a critical time for the future of British Jews. CST and our many communal partners will keep working with police and government to ensure that these deployments are as effective as possible.'
